Downtown has hope for change

By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD Members of the Boston chapter of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) told a group of about 30 business leaders, city officials and downtown residents that some significant improvements to the city's downtown can be accomplished within "zero to five years," while others might take up to 20 years.

Kathryn Madden of the ULI group that completed a detailed look at the city's center said people should think of urban development like maintaining a house it will always need some improvement.

The group looked specifically at the section defined by the boundaries of Lyman Street to State Street and to Interstate 91 to Springfield Technical Community College.

The group presented its top redevelopment projects for this section of the city:

31 Elm Street

The Old First Church

The development of the Federal Building on Main Street

The re-opening of Pynchon Plaza providing a pedestrian walkway connecting Chestnut and Dwight Streets

The second tier of improvements include:

Signage on Dwight Street as it is the major street into downtown from Interstate 291

Establishing on street parking on Main Street

Development of Union Station

ULI member Eric Fellinger said the city has "a great urban framework."

"It's text book good urban design," he added.

Fellinger said that he and his wife lived in Springfield for two years and moved because of a job offer for his spouse. He said the decision to move was difficult, as both loved the city.

Madden said the city must determine which person or what organization should take the lead on downtown development and detailed several potential models. Whatever model the city might elect to establish, the private sector must be able to easily work with that entity, she added.

Parking expert Steve Cebra said that parking could be either an asset or a liability in a city such as Springfield.

"Run properly, it's an asset," he said.

He conducted a survey of the city's downtown lots on Tuesday and discovered most of them were less than half full. He said he found the conditions of several of the garages as "deplorable" with garbage and bad lighting.

His recommendations included deciding if the parking lots should be publicly or privately operated; conduct a market survey to establish different rates for different lots; and liquidate under-performing areas. He also said that on street parking on Main Street should be established.

Re-building the current Civic Center garage is also important, Cebra added.

The group also offered funding ideas from some of these projects. The re-building of the Civic Center Garage could be paid for the Massachusetts Civic Center Authority that owns the MassMutual Center or through bonds issued by the Springfield Parking Authority. The re-opening of Pynchon Park could be accomplished through funds allocated by the Finance Control Board and the city's Parks Department.

Another ULI panel recently made suggestions for the city's South End neighborhood.