Sdat final report presentation

Final Report Highlights

Introductions

Focus on Core “Heart”

• Our downtown is very large• Result: very few blocks are completely filled

out with buildings• Easily walkable but huge gaps along the way

(parking lots, etc.)• At 250 ft (25-story building), zoning is too

tall and encourages false sense of capacity

Focus on Core “Heart”

5th 6th

Adams

Washington

Monroe

• Prioritize public investment in this area 1st

• Build critical mass that will spread

Focus on Core “Heart”

Adams

Washington

Monroe

• Future downtown growth should move toward Medical District

• Retail on Carpenter should complement downtown residential (not retail)

Downtown Housing

• Focus on “pioneers”– early adopters who want an edgier, less traditional lifestyle

• Parking solutions for residents

Downtown Housing

• Consider upscale and affordable housing projects

• Seek out developers who specialize in publicly financed housing

• Tackle difficult buildings with 501(c)3• Develop design guidelines for urban

housing

Downtown Housing

• Goal: 342 units by 2022• Subsidies should = 42.44% of project cost• The upper floors of existing buildings within

the core offer enough space to meet the growth projections

The Downtown Lifestyle• Unique• Community-building• Expand on food

themes• More vibrant streets

like 6th between Adams and Monroe

• Even more trees and green spaces

Even More Pedestrian-Friendly• Eliminate blank wall

facades• Storefronts provide

connection between outside/inside

• Autos should be hidden in back

• Can’t be too many places to sit

Visitor Experience

• Develop The Springfield Way to link heritage corridors as a loop around downtown

Transportation

• Downtown drivers must be slowed down• Parking is actually very convenient but the

perception is it’s not• Pedestrian crossings are generally too wide• Sidewalk experience is inconsistent

Transportation

• Give care and attention to 11th Street Corridor

• Prioritize repaving where it meets multiple goals

• Create a separate set of policies for downtown to encourage pedestrian lifestyle

• Reconsider the one-way grid• Apply road diets • Seek more funding

Sustainability

• Change zoning and policies to support walkability

• Add requirements for water and energy conservation

• Reusing existing buildings is the most sustainable building practice

• Add additional food sources• Add a community garden

Sustainability• Add a new park in

each of the four corners of the study area

• Bring back skating rink in winter

• Construct running circuit

Market Potential

• More retail activity needed to support residential

• Dinner hour, apparel and related retail options are limited

• Void of national tenants• BUT high level of visitor and workforce-

related economic potential

Market Potential

• Develop merchandising plan for potential uses at block level

• Develop a recruitment effort with national and credit worth tenants

• Create pop-up businesses and events targeted to Sunday evenings

• Springfield’s substantial inventory of assets at low acquisition cost can be quickly activated

Branding Downtown

• Restore relevancy• Attract millennials• Modernize our brand• Develop “Share” programs – bike, car,

apartment, designer clothing• Embrace the emotional experience of

downtown• Pay attention to the words we choose

Keys to Success

• Overcome local cynicism• Beyond State Capitol or Lincoln – what is

our modern image?• Revitalization is a process• Leverage all of our assets fully• Every sector of our community should be

involved• Civic action gets results

Mayor’s Action Committee

• Connect the dots– Keep track of which organization is taking the

lead on which issue– Leverage strengths– Pinpoint gaps– Build consensus– Serve as a resource– Serve as neutral territory

Q&A

Final Report Highlights