Urban Land Institute Springfield: Strategies for a Sustainable City Overview

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Urban Land InstituteSpringfield Strategies
for a Sustainable CityOverview
Recommendations
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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

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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

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ULIs assessment recommendations

• Cross-sector leadership
• Capitalize on strengths
• Downtown's market potential
• Neighborhood preservation

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Cross-sector leadership

• Effective local government support
• Foster civic pride and corporate philanthropy
• Visionary developers
• Regional pride and cooperative

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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

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Capitalize on Springfields strengths

• Exceptional regional access
• Vibrant mix of uses in the urban core
• Architecturally significant buildings ripe for
  redevelopment
• Abundant, convenient parking
• 350-year history

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Springfields 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

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Enhance downtowns market potential

• Maximize assets Historic downtown and cultural
  attractions
• Minimize liabilities Office and commercial
  vacancies, perception of crime, civil disorder

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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

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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

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Preserving Springfields neighborhoods

• Rich, varied, historic housing stock
• Affordable prices

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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

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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

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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