Urban Land InstituteSpringfield: Strategies for a Sustainable City

Overview Overview & Recommendations& Recommendations

Why Springfield chose ULI

• Objective resource in urban planning, growth Objective resource in urban planning, growth and developmentand development

• World-wide experience, stellar reputationWorld-wide experience, stellar reputation

• Practical, reality-based recommendationsPractical, reality-based recommendations

• Inclusive, community-wide dynamic processInclusive, community-wide dynamic process

• Immediate consensus driven programImmediate consensus driven program

Goal of ULI process: Setting our collective priorities

• Inclusive Community Based PlanInclusive Community Based Plan• Puts effort behind the right projectsPuts effort behind the right projects• Makes best use of assetsMakes best use of assets• Retains the equity we haveRetains the equity we have• Develops a plan for nowDevelops a plan for now• Forges partnership with Business CommunityForges partnership with Business Community

ULI’s assessment & recommendations

• Cross-sector leadershipCross-sector leadership• Capitalize on strengthsCapitalize on strengths• Downtown's market potentialDowntown's market potential• Neighborhood preservationNeighborhood preservation

Cross-sector leadership

• Effective local government supportEffective local government support• Foster civic pride and corporate philanthropyFoster civic pride and corporate philanthropy• Visionary developersVisionary developers• Regional pride and cooperativeRegional pride and cooperative

Cross-sector leadership: Recommendations

• Extend the term of the Finance Control BoardExtend the term of the Finance Control Board• Work to increase state appropriationsWork to increase state appropriations• Create and promote guiding principles for Create and promote guiding principles for

good governmentgood government• Celebrate diversity and seek inclusivenessCelebrate diversity and seek inclusiveness

Capitalize on Springfield’s strengths

• Exceptional regional accessExceptional regional access• Vibrant mix of uses in the urban coreVibrant mix of uses in the urban core• Architecturally significant buildings ripe for Architecturally significant buildings ripe for

redevelopmentredevelopment• Abundant, convenient parkingAbundant, convenient parking• 350-year history350-year history

Springfield’s strengths: Planning & development strategies

• Think like a master developerThink like a master developer• Establish criteria for evaluating city projectsEstablish criteria for evaluating city projects• Enhance and develop critical Enhance and develop critical

planning, development and enforcement toolsplanning, development and enforcement tools• Inventory and repackage vacant landInventory and repackage vacant land

Enhance downtown’s market potential

• Maximize assets: Historic downtown Maximize assets: Historic downtown and cultural attractionsand cultural attractions

• Minimize liabilities: Office and Minimize liabilities: Office and commercial vacancies, perception of commercial vacancies, perception of crime, civil disordercrime, civil disorder

Downtown: Planning & Development strategies

• Market, Market, Market Market, Market, Market • Convert vacant/underused Class B & C Convert vacant/underused Class B & C

spaces into market-rate housing spaces into market-rate housing • Expand retail development attracting street-Expand retail development attracting street-

oriented retailers (e.g. American Apparel)oriented retailers (e.g. American Apparel)• Identify and attract target markets for Identify and attract target markets for

downtown living (e.g. young professionals)downtown living (e.g. young professionals)• Raise occupancy in existing downtown Raise occupancy in existing downtown

commercial spacecommercial space

Downtown strategies

Short-term priority projectsShort-term priority projects• Redevelopment of 31 Elm Street projectRedevelopment of 31 Elm Street project

• Re-use of old Federal building on Main StreetRe-use of old Federal building on Main Street

• York Street Jail demolitionYork Street Jail demolition

Mid-term priority projectsMid-term priority projects• Main Street and State Street Corridor ImprovementsMain Street and State Street Corridor Improvements

• Downtown parking lotsDowntown parking lots

• Apremont Triangle areaApremont Triangle area

Future developmentFuture development• Union StationUnion Station

Preserving Springfield’s neighborhoods

• Rich, varied, historic housing stockRich, varied, historic housing stock• Affordable pricesAffordable prices

Neighborhood

Short-term Priority ProjectShort-term Priority Project• The South EndThe South End

Mid-term Priority ProjectsMid-term Priority Projects• Targeted neighborhood improvementsTargeted neighborhood improvements

• Smith Carriage Company DistrictSmith Carriage Company District

• Community resources in and around Community resources in and around East Columbus AvenueEast Columbus Avenue

• Vacant houses of worship throughout SpringfieldVacant houses of worship throughout Springfield

Future developmentFuture development• Mason Square fire stationMason Square fire station

• Former Chapman Valve siteFormer Chapman Valve site

• Memorial Industrial Park IIMemorial Industrial Park II

ULI: Report summary

• Attract leadership from throughout Attract leadership from throughout the communitythe community

• Make downtown a destination to live, work, Make downtown a destination to live, work, and playand play

• Preserve the character and integrity of Preserve the character and integrity of neighborhoodsneighborhoods

Moving Forward• New York Times Article on 5/9/07New York Times Article on 5/9/07

– Focused on ULI and joint effort of City Staff, Local Focused on ULI and joint effort of City Staff, Local Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, EDC, Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, EDC, Community Leaders and residentsCommunity Leaders and residents

• The Boston Chapter of the ULI has volunteered The Boston Chapter of the ULI has volunteered to perform 2 Technical Assistance Panels (TAP)to perform 2 Technical Assistance Panels (TAP)– The First TAP is focused on Hollywood/ GeminiThe First TAP is focused on Hollywood/ Gemini

• Panel performed fact-finding mission on 4/17/07Panel performed fact-finding mission on 4/17/07• Panel presented findings on 4/28/07Panel presented findings on 4/28/07• Panel final report expected late MayPanel final report expected late May

– The Second TAP is focused on the DowntownThe Second TAP is focused on the Downtown• Panel performed fact finding mission on 5/8/07Panel performed fact finding mission on 5/8/07• Panel to present findings in late May or early JunePanel to present findings in late May or early June