Springfield Downtown redevelopment Area

Downtown Springfield is like many historic commercial districts which have seen their anchor retail and professional offices move to the malls or to business parks in the suburbs. Prior to 2003, there had not been any new construction in the Downtown district for 25 years. The city’s historic core business district has been marked by empty storefronts, little investment in building maintenance, and the perception that the Downtown area is a bad place to locate a mainstream business. The few surviving restaurants and businesses typically closed before dark. Those establishments that remained open were mostly clubs, bars and pool halls.

Economic disinvestment in the downtown properties and businesses continues to contribute significantly to the environment of the area. For example, property upkeep is an essential economic investment that builds public perceptions of safety and vitality. Applying the principles of Crime Prevention through Community Design cited in a 1997 Springfield Police study, “requires private investment in property crime abatement measures, such as lighting and other improvements. Without consistent investment in these important improvements, the area will remain an easy target for crime and disorder.”

 The public’s concern for personal safety in the Downtown is not unfounded. A 1995 report by the Springfield Police Department identified the following types of crimes and behavioral problems in the Downtown district as being frequent and typical:

• loitering and disorderly conduct
• vandalism
• panhandling
• graffiti
• littering
• aggressive behavior

These problems remain central to the conditions in the downtown district. Moreover, they are also interrelated with more long-term problems such as homelessness, substance abuse and prostitution. The district is impacted economically by a negative public image associated with the above problems. The public perception of problems suppresses business interest and investment. Vacant storefronts adversely impact the viability of the district overall. Existing businesses struggle to remain viable and attract sufficient customers.

In the fall of 2003, the Springfield City Council asked staff to present a report regarding the possibility of designating a section of downtown as a “Blighted Area” in order to utilize a portion of the City’s CDBG allocation to assist with eligible revitalization activities. Staff presented a report at a Council work session on October 13, 2003, outlining the process of designating a “Blighted Area” and discussed with the Council eligible and ineligible activities under 24 CFR §570.208(b). Upon Council’s recommendation, Staff presented the report at the Council’s regular session on October 20, 2003. Council unanimously approved staff to move forward with securing a “Blighted Area” designation for downtown, and submit an amendment to the Five-Year Consolidated Plan.

The area designated for consideration is the central commercial district (see map), bounded by South A Street on the south, 10th Street on the east, B Street on the north and Mill Street on the west, excluding the residential areas on the south side of B Street between 8th and 10th Streets, and on the north side of A Street between 9th and 10th Streets. In November 2003, staff conducted an exhaustive building by building inventory of all structures in the proposed redevelopment area, to determine the extent of physical deterioration. A total of 116 individual structures were inventoried, with 68 structures showing clear signs of deterioration.

An amendment to the 2000 Eugene-Springfield Consolidated Plan was submitted to HUD describing the proposed Springfield Downtown Redevelopment Area and included the Definition of Blighted Area as required by CDBG regulations. Area designation approval was received from HUD on February 12, 2004.

Since its designation in 2004, the Springfield downtown Redevelopment Area has benefited from several CDBG funded projects aimed at eliminating prevailing conditions that contribute to blight on an area-wide basis, including the Richard E. Wildish Community Theater, the Emerald Emprire Art Center, and the renovation of the heating system in the Memorial Building. As more attention is focused on Springfield's downtown, there will continue to be opportunities for the City to use CDBG funds to assist with the redevelopment of distressed and underutilized commercial properties.