ULI targets development projects

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD After what Maureen McAvey, the leader of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) team in Springfield, called a "very intense week," the public received a preview of the teams economic development report on Friday at a two and a half hour presentation at City Stage.

Based on economic and demographic information supplied by the city McAvey described the briefing book as being three inches thick as well as a day-long tour of the city and listening to the opinions of nearly 150 residents and civic leaders, the team gave the city a short list of projects that need to be addressed immediately.

They include:

Making plans now for the re-development of the Federal Court House building on Main Street;

Developing the site of the former Gemini factory building on Central Street and eliminating some of the density in the Hollywood section of the South End;

Developing the former Court Square hotel;

And razing the York Street Jail to make way for more development along the river front.

The final report will be delivered to city officials in 75 to 100 days.

One by one ULI team members addressed the audience with remarks that were critical and encouraging.

Lewis Bolan said the city's housing stock was "both a blessing and a curse." He said the city's Victorian home stock was "an enormous asset," and remarked that Springfield properties were about half the cost of similar properties in metro Boston.

He added, though, that low cost discourages the construction of new homes, which is the "curse" side of the situation.

Bolan was also impressed with the "great inventory of older buildings" in the downtown area for business re-use, but he was not impressed with what he saw as a lack of marketing. He said there needs to be aggressive marketing to businesses, residents and visitors.

"Are you your own worst enemy?" he asked the several hundred people who attended the presentation. He said ULI saw Springfield from the "glass half full" perspective.

Jeffrey Kaplan said Springfield needs to re-invent itself.

"This used to be the 'City of Homes.' Now it's the 'City of Question Marks,'" he said.

The city needs to be seen as the cultural urban center of the Pioneer Valley, Kaplan said. He believes that focusing on specific projects that would provide downtown housing for students and artists is essential.

Several of the team leaders stressed the importance of developing a higher education presence in downtown Springfield.

When asked about retail development, Kaplan said retail would follow housing. If new housing is developed, the retail element will come later.

Bolan said additional retailers could not survive on the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. market the downtown current has.

"You need more people downtown," Bolan added.

Like several of the team members, Kaplan referred to the city's corruption probes and said that now is the time for "real leadership."

"It's time to get over the past," he added.

One of the conclusions the ULI team made was that the Finance Control Board should stay for one more mayoral term in Springfield. McAvey said the team noted that successful cities are those with a strong mayor form of government with a four-year mayoral term.

Ellen McLean emphasized the need for the city to "commit to excellence" and to adhere to the highest ethical standards.

Barry Elbassani spoke of the need to identify parking areas downtown and make sure Main Street looks like a main street.

He suggested reinforcing the idea of Main Street's importance in the city by installing more historical or informational plaques and planting more trees, for instance.

Connecting to the downtown river front is important to foster development in that area and he said that properties along the river front corridor, such as the former St. Joseph's Church on Howard Street need to be preserved in its redevelopment.

McAvey said the team recommended the city adapt a licensing process for landlords. If the landlords don't follow city ordinances on the upkeep of their properties and the quality of their tenants they could lose their license to rent their properties in the city.

The team also stressed that Springfield's lack of Additional Assistance funds from the state was an important factor in its present condition.

Surprising some in the audience, Elbassani said the team believes the Union Station re-development project needs to discontinued for the time being. The building should be stabilized and sealed until other developments are addressed, he said.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Mayor Charles Ryan thanked the ULI team for their hard work .