http://rutlandherald.com/article/20140708/NEWS02/707089933
Published July 8, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield survey reveals residents’ wish list By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A survey of downtown businesses, merchants, residents and visitors show that the biggest missing ingredient to downtown Springfield is a bakery, followed closely by a brew pub. Carol Lighthall, executive director of Springfield On The Move, said Monday the survey conducted by her organization showed that the third top missing ingredient was a general merchandise department store. And here’s some good news — talks are currently underway that could bring a bakery to the downtown area by the fall, Lighthall said. Lighthall said bringing a bakery to the downtown was an “important goal.” “Until a lease is signed ... we’ve made some good progress in that area. We have some ducks in a row and something could come together in the fall.” Lighthall said she would be interested in talking with anyone who has experience or interest in opening either a bakery or a brew pub. Jenny Wren CafĂ© offers some baked goods, in addition to sandwiches for the lunch crowd, but Lighthall said the bakery being sought would fill a different niche. In addition, survey respondents said dining options, attending the movies, visiting the town library and doing banking were the main reasons people came to downtown Springfield. The recommendations that surfaced in the survey were initially discussed at last week’s annual meeting of Springfield On The Move, the downtown revitalization group. In follow-up interview, Lighthall said that the downtown business survey was sent to all 63 downtown businesses. Forty completed surveys were returned, she said. The survey contained 33 questions. She said that surveys were mailed out, emailed and also done door-to-door. The surveys were distributed during March and April, with help from Peter Stearns, a worker from Vermont Associates who has been working with the downtown group. “It was a community survey, open to visitors, people who live here and businesses,” Lighthall said. Lighthall said there was concern mentioned in the completed surveys about safety in the downtown area after recent drug-related violence. While safely was not an original part of the survey, she said respondents said safety is a concern. She said the vast majority of people said they felt safe during the day in the downtown area. But Lighthall said she shared the survey results with town officials, and Police Chief Douglas Johnston attended a board meeting of SOM. Foot patrols were increased in the downtown area as a result, Lighthall said. She said the survey and the increase in foot patrols started before last month’s downtown shooting between drug dealers. “The communication with the police department has improved,” Lighthall said. Lighthall said helping the Odd Fellows organization sell their building downtown was another top priority for Springfield On The Move. The building, which was painted last summer by a work crew from the state prison in Windsor, has been vacant for two years, without electricity, heat and water. Finding a new owner has been a “protracted transaction and has taken much longer than one would expect,” she said. Lighthall said downtown is defined from the Community Center Bridge to the bridge at One Hundred River Street and one block east and west from Main Street and River Street.
Great ideas.
ReplyDeleteBlack River Brew,
Finless Brown Ale
or
You can make a lot of dough making bread, loafing all day. :-)
loafing all day
At yeast you didn't including the town's knead for fewer pundits in your cutesy remarks!
ReplyDeleteExecutive director of Springfield On The Move, said Monday the survey was conducted by her organization. Anyone wonder why the town is failing? No? Lets conduct another survey! What Springfield needs first and foremost are some intelligent leaders instead of a brewery or bakery.
ReplyDeleteTo make good beer you need very good water. Where ?
ReplyDeleteMore hype from Springfield on the Dole. The headline is misleading, since the article indicates that "businesses" were surveyed and not "residents". So, forty responses to a slanted survey constitutes newsworthiness? It's obvious that this is just more self-promotion from the chief dole recipient! If it isn't a survey, it's a logo. Come on Springfield, quit wasting your money on this woman and her little cottage industry of smoke and mirrors!
ReplyDeleteA survey of downtown business? Odd, as I nor any other business/chamber member I know of was polled. Pointless anyhow, as CL hasn't the vaguest comprehension of what first has to be in place for a community's downtown to thrive. How are those banners working out CL? Fewer business on Main street now then before the banners were hung two years ago.
ReplyDeleteHey, hey, hey, cool it. Springfield was re-invented. This drug trade did not exist before those banners went up. So there.
DeleteIronic that such a "half-baked" survey would cite the need for a downtown bakery!
ReplyDeleteThey only survey the businesses that they know will give them the answers they want. It's like that whitewash they did with the parking problem downtown. Parking problem? We don't have a parking problem. See, we did a survey, and the survey results say we don't have a parking problem. So the rest of you can all shut up now.
ReplyDeleteHow about running off the scumbags who sit around causing trouble and an eyesore like the gang wannabes I saw last night draped all over the place in fromt of the library?
ReplyDeleteUntil Carol Lighthall figures out this issue would you ever start a business in downtown Springfield? This supposed bakery owner must be nuts to put a financial investment at risk. I wont even bother walking downtown until these thugs are gone. I dont care how good the bakery or beer is.
DeleteVery true. I want to run them over. It is very tempting believe me.
DeleteI can't hear you la,la,la,la... I can't hear you la,la,la,la
DeleteExactly! Springfield leaders (e.g. G.M.) prefer to pontificate to brick walls because they don't talk back. Makes "governing" much easier that way.
DeleteWhat Springfield's downtown needs is a bulldozer.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly Gerry
ReplyDeleteCareful, guys. You start talking heavy equipment and the town will run to Gurney Bros. with another sweetheart deal.
ReplyDelete