Urban Land Institute
Springfield:
Strategies for a
Sustainable City
Overview
& Recommendations
Why Springfield chose ULI
• Objective resource in urban planning, growth
and development
• World-wide experience, stellar reputation
• Practical, reality-based recommendations
• Inclusive, community-wide dynamic process
• Immediate consensus driven program
Goal of ULI process:
Setting our collective priorities
• Inclusive Community Based Plan
• Puts effort behind the right projects
• Makes best use of assets
• Retains the equity we have
• Develops a plan for now
• Forges partnership with Business Community
ULI’s assessment & recommendations
• Cross-sector leadership
• Capitalize on strengths
• Downtown's market potential
• Neighborhood preservation
Cross-sector leadership
• Effective local government support
• Foster civic pride and corporate philanthropy
• Visionary developers
• Regional pride and cooperative
Cross-sector leadership:
Recommendations
• Extend the term of the Finance Control Board
• Work to increase state appropriations
• Create and promote guiding principles for
good government
• Celebrate diversity and seek inclusiveness
Capitalize on Springfield’s strengths
• Exceptional regional access
• Vibrant mix of uses in the urban core
• Architecturally significant buildings ripe for
redevelopment
• Abundant, convenient parking
• 350-year history
Springfield’s strengths:
Planning & development strategies
• Think like a master developer
• Establish criteria for evaluating city projects
• Enhance and develop critical
planning, development and enforcement tools
• Inventory and repackage vacant land
Enhance downtown’s market potential
• Maximize assets: Historic downtown
and cultural attractions
• Minimize liabilities: Office and
commercial vacancies, perception of
crime, civil disorder
Downtown:
Planning & Development strategies
• Market, Market, Market
• Convert vacant/underused Class B & C
spaces into market-rate housing
• Expand retail development attracting street-
oriented retailers (e.g. American Apparel)
• Identify and attract target markets for
downtown living (e.g. young professionals)
• Raise occupancy in existing downtown
commercial space
Downtown strategies
Short-term priority projects
• Redevelopment of 31 Elm Street project
• Re-use of old Federal building on Main Street
• York Street Jail demolition
Mid-term priority projects
• Main Street and State Street Corridor Improvements
• Downtown parking lots
• Apremont Triangle area
Future development
• Union Station
Preserving Springfield’s
neighborhoods
• Rich, varied, historic housing stock
• Affordable prices
Neighborhood
Short-term Priority Project
• The South End
Mid-term Priority Projects
• Targeted neighborhood improvements
• Smith Carriage Company District
• Community resources in and around
East Columbus Avenue
• Vacant houses of worship throughout Springfield
Future development
• Mason Square fire station
• Former Chapman Valve site
• Memorial Industrial Park II
ULI: Report summary
• Attract leadership from throughout
the community
• Make downtown a destination to live, work,
and play
• Preserve the character and integrity of
neighborhoods
Moving Forward
• New York Times Article on 5/9/07
– Focused on ULI and joint effort of City Staff, Local
Businesses, Chamber of Commerce, EDC,
Community Leaders and residents
• The Boston Chapter of the ULI has volunteered
to perform 2 Technical Assistance Panels (TAP)
– The First TAP is focused on Hollywood/ Gemini
• Panel performed fact-finding mission on 4/17/07
• Panel presented findings on 4/28/07
• Panel final report expected late May
– The Second TAP is focused on the Downtown
• Panel performed fact finding mission on 5/8/07
• Panel to present findings in late May or early June
