What’s the second economic development act after 2018 for Springfield?Date: 9/21/2017 So what do you think is going to happen after 2018 in the city of Springfield?
I ask because 2018 is going to be a banner year. MGM Springfield will open. Union Station will see the start of commuter trains linking the region with another choice of transportation to the south. CRRC will be making rail cars, hopefully spurring a new era of manufacturing in the area.
What’s the second act, though? Have anyone been talking about what should be next?
Don’t we have an issue with the city’s pension fund? Are there any answers being proposed?
If we didn’t have MGM making advance payments to us would we be in a stable financial position?
We hear a lot about innovation and the Innovation District, but the Innovation Center on Bridge Street is still not open. Why? Wasn’t it supposed to be finished this summer?
Is anything being proposed to redevelop the area on Worthington Street that was literally blown up by the gas leak in 2012? There is a lot of empty space, but I’ve not heard any possible redevelopment plans.
I pass by the Willys-Overland building on Chestnut Street almost every day. What is its story? Damaged by the gas explosion, the owner eventually unsuccessfully sought a demolition order, despite the fact it could be redeveloped. What’s the hold-up? Does the city own it?
If I hit Powerball, I’d like to put in residences and retail/office space there and use the parking garage in it as a parking garage for customers and tenants.
How about our infrastructure needs? There are many streets in the city that are just awful. Is this a project for our future?
How much open space does the city have for development? At the debate among the three Democrats seeking their party’s nomination for governor, the idea of bringing an Amazon center to Massachusetts turned to bringing an Amazon center to Western Massachusetts. Okay, where? Would Springfield have the space?
What’s the deal with the Paramount block? Again, a possible location for market rate housing and another downtown arts venue.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about encouraging small business. How? When? What type of business?
These are some of the questions that occur to me about what’s next. Considering how slow the Legislature moves, much less Congress, funding for new projects is something that takes years. Shouldn’t we start the conversation now?
Well, I’ve got to find out some answers. Watch out for stories in the future.
How would you rate?
Recently I was given a set of cards that was designed by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to test a homeowner’s and a community’s measures to combat climate change.
How would you score on the following?
• Recycling – the recycling rate in Springfield is only 15 percent.
• The addition of bike lanes to roads to encourage more bicycle traffic.
• More grocery stores in more neighborhood as transportation adds to greenhouse gases.
• Bringing in Zipcars, so people wouldn’t have t buy their own car, yet have access to one.
• Greater insulation in homes and businesses.
• Use of carpooling.
• Using a clothesline to dry clothes.
• Establishing more community gardens.
• Composting yard and food waste at home. About 30 percent of that is burned at the Covanta incinerator is food waste.
• Growing some of your own food in a backyard garden.
• Installing solar panels on your home or business
What do you think?
Confidential to the brass at MGM
I really don’t want to seem ungrateful that you’re placing such a great amount of dough into our local economy. I really appreciate it.
I’m just a little confused. Wasn’t the market area for MGM Springfield essentially a 100 mile circle around the city? Isn’t Bridgeport, CT, – where you want to put up another casino – within that 100 miles?
I’m worried about saturation of the New England market, especially if the plans do move forward to put a casino in East Windsor, CT.
I’m really not trying to be a wise guy, but could someone explain how the Bridgeport casino wouldn’t make a negative impact on ours?
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