Working Group: Springfield Revitalization Strategy

[zoo]

I've asked the question about the current VA facility several times, probably to all the wrong people, but have yet to receive an answer about what the feds plan to do with it. In this plan, looks like it is to become professional office and VA outpatient?

Main hope would be feds don't decide to distribute it per their unused real estate policies, as they once did the Job Corps center. Pie-in-the-sky hope is that it could be assembled with the property on the opposite side of 8th for redevelopment (probably as likely as finding an iguana in Santa's front yard).

[uptowngirl]

My greatest fear for w 8th is we will just have a bunch of parking lot/garages . I am still in fear they will build a parking lot garage on their vacant lots between Perry and Blvd 9th-11th. We already have the VA monster, I do not believe the neighbors want any more.  Keep the parking garages out of the Historic District.

I understand new costruction financing is not readily available right now, BUT ignoring W 8th is not an option either. Support for Van Horn's plan (even up to this past year) is an example we do NOT want followed again. We on the Westside are the losers in all of this, now we have vacant lots primed for parking lots and garages...incorporate Shands plans, but NOT if they include more parking lots and garages.

[thelakelander]

Zoo:

Its kind of hard to read, but from what's labeled.

1. This plan includes everything south of the S-Line.  The north border of this plan is the S-Line.  In the event that rail came to the S-Line, there's no reason everything north of 12th Street could not be redeveloped as a transit oriented development with the water retention area becoming a feature lake in the middle of a public park.

2. Outside of a future hotel/restaurant and multiple parking garages, its hard to say.  Given their size, they could be either medical offices or hotel related resident shielding the streets from the garages.


Uptowngirl:

Although new construction may be hard to pull off at this time, by no means is anyone advocating the West 8th should be ignored.  When I mention incorporating Shands plans, I mean working to make sure everything is well integrated.  Imo, just having Shands as an anchor makes Westsiders winners.  If both (Springfield/Shands) have knowledge of their neighbor's future plans and visions, this will give everyone the opportunity to work together.  Working together will lead to NOT having garages all along 8th or buildings sitting behind huge gated parking lots.

[nvrenuf]

How far north does Davis run? With the roundabout on 10th would BRT need to run on Davis instead? She said with great hope. I wouldn't mind seeing a retail area where the tire store was with maybe a Sweet Tomatoes. Cracker Barrel that close for breakfast would just make it harder to fit into my jeans.

[thelakelander]

Davis does not cross MLK and it is residential as well, north of 8th Street.  The most commercial street N/S outside of Main, east of I-95, is Pearl, north of 8th Street.

I don't know about Sweet Tomatoes, but getting Cracker Barrel to come to Springfield would be a tough sell.  Cracker Barrel normally selects sites with visual expressway frontage and optimal travel patterns.  The parcels they target are also pretty large in size compared to Springfield's typical commercial lot land area.  So unless they would be willing to develop an urban prototype, land assembly and adjacent building demolition would probably be required (for the large parking lot that includes truck/bus parking), if the expressway visibility issue and traffic count issues could be overcome. 

[UglyBilly]

quote author=strider link=topic=4015.msg61090#msg61090 date=1229563943]

A Red Robin comes to mind as well.  I use the major chains to illustrate the type of place but it could be an independent that caters to the same crowd.  One benefit to the chains is consistency and the ability to stay with those hours and menus while business builds.

Wow, my wife and I were just talking about how great it would be if there were a Red Robin or a good Pizzeria  in Springfield!

[fsu813]

what would a better name for the "Springfield Town Center" be?

Main Street Markets

umm...i dunno.

my brain isn't working now.

[thelakelander]

I would agree that the area does not need to be branded with a new name.  Its a historic district for crying out loud.  Pull and run with what's already there and unique to Springfield.  Names tell a story and when they relate to the history of the neighborhood, they help create a sense of place.  The Town Center name has been bludgeoned to death and is now more associated with strip center development than urban districts.

[BridgeTroll]

The Shoppes of Springfield...

Springfield Marketplace...

[thelakelander]

^ All great points.

[nvrenuf]

Demand a sign from 95 that points people to the Springfield Historic District.

Do you mean a highway exit sign? Cuz we have signs already once you exit.

[zoo]

Light the Alleyways behind the commercial district.

Demand a sign from 95 that points people to the Springfield Historic District.

Great ideas. So great, trying to get them done has been in the works for at least 2 years. As usual, the issues are bureaucratic red tape, political influence, and or funding. Test alleys are being planned for this coming Jan. Where was the funding found? Just that silly tax credit program I keep sounding like a broken record about.

Maybe the next administration will prove they give a hoot about National Historic Districts (or more likely, blighted areas). Even with Corrine Brown at transportation committee, we haven't had success here yet...

[downtownparks]

You just love stirring the pot. Who attacked Thoburn?

[AlexS]

Can we please stay on topic ?

And Stephen, if it just takes ONE phone call to JEA to light the streets and alleys can you please make it ? Would be great to have the alleys lit up.

[AlexS]

The lighting will cost a couple of hundred a month AlexS.  John and I paid it for 4 years, its someone elses turn now.

Ahhh, did not know it costs money. Thought it was just a phone call.