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Downtown plan calls for opening up Black River view and roundabouts
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2016-11-12 / Front Page
Residents give input on downtown improvement plan
By TORY JONES
toryb@eagletimes.com
Deanna Dexter, president of the Springfield Garden Club, looks over conceptual plans for downtown improvement projects at an informal public information session on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Hartness House. — TORY JONES
Deanna Dexter, president of the Springfield Garden Club, looks over conceptual plans for downtown improvement projects at an informal public information session on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Hartness House. — TORY JONES
SPRINGFIELD — About 100 interested Springfield residents came out to see conceptual plans for downtown improvements at a Main Street Meet Up public input session on Thursday, Nov. 10 at the Hartness House.
Carolyn Radisch, with consulting firm Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (GPI), said the proposed project is “very exciting for Springfield.”
“Things can change for the better,” she said. “We’re looking at improving public spaces, and to make the area more friendly for pedestrians.”
GPI is a planning, engineering, urban design and landscape architecture firm leading the project plans. Radisch asked the community for their input and ideas on Main Street corridor improvements through a question-and-answer session and posters with markers where residents could write questions and comments.
The firm is working on the project with a marketing advisor, brownsfield environmentalists, an architect, and Jones and Lamson, she said.
“We want to build something,” Springfield Town Manager Tom Yennerell said.
The proposed improvements, still in the concept stage, are part of the Streetscape Master Plan being developed by the town and Springfield on the Move (SOM). The Master Plan addresses what planners are calling the “core” of Main Street, from the intersection of Main, Clinton, South and Mineral streets to 100 River St.
Ideas presented on Thursday address river access, green space, and a walkway to connect visitors with the “river walk” and downtown; public space improvements and better municipal parking; “reuse concepts” for selected, currently unused sites; and pedestrian and bicycle improvements and gateway improvements.
The firm calculated about 80,000 square feet of vacant unused, industrial retail space, Radisch said. The project will also address centrally-located parking, instead of trying to “jam it in” at every retail site.
Plans also included a “road diet” that would change the Clinton Street four-lane to a three-lane with a center turn lane, and add a roundabout to address the heavy traffic pattern and lack of pedestrian space at the intersection of Clinton and South streets.
Ideas presented for unused industrial buildings included small office space, dining, a brewery or pub, and other retail activities that could draw visitors and lead to an economic boost.
“People go to a downtown because of the experience,” Radisch said.
Other parts of the plan included bump-out crosswalks for safer walking, and image and identity, such as more arts incorporated into the downtown area.
Working with the local arts community to express a community identity could “make the place really sing,” she said.
GPI is also proposing clearing brush to create seating and walking areas along the river and near the falls, and opening up the plaza in front of the cinema to create a comfortable space. That is due to multiple visitors’ feedback asking for a place to sit and look at the falls, she said.
One guest had a concern about plowing around the “bump-outs. Radisch said the curbs can be designed for easy plowing, and have already been in use in Manchester, Vermont.
“The town could use a roundabout,” said resident Todd Hutchinson.
Another asked if property owners had been contacted for input.
The response from property owners has been “positive,” and they have been interested and willing to work with the town so far, Yennerell said.
Yennerell said having the river walk behind properties “will be a huge boost in property values [for landowners].” They would not have to maintain that land, because the town would take care of it, he said.
This project is funded through VTrans and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s (ACCD) “Strong Communities, Better Connections” joint grant program.
“We really want to see these projects get implemented,” said program manager Richard Amore with ACCD.
He attended the meeting with program manager Jackie Cassino with VTrans. Both agencies joined together to provide support for a $67,500 grant to the town of Springfield, which will be responsible for a 10 percent match in funds, for a total of $75,000 available for downtown improvements, Amore said.
The timeframe for the project is long-term. The next step will be to gather the feedback from community members, have GPI present information to the Springfield Selectboard in January or February, and then follow through with more grant applications and seeking more funding to implement the plan starting around April 2017, Yennerell said.
“Then the town and partners will decide what’s priority. And then we’re just going to get to work,” Yennerell said.
The total project cost will depend on which individual projects become priorities, once all parties have gathered feedback and discussed it with the selectboard.
The project will be guided by a steering committee representing community representatives and the project sponsors. The committee includes representatives from the town of Springfield, downtown business and property owners, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce (SRCOC), Springfield Housing Authority (SHA), Springfield on the Move (SOM), Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission (SWCRPC), Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) and the ACCD. Several agency representatives attended the informal session.
Also present to discuss their ongoing work in downtown Springfield were representatives with Springfield Regional Development Corporation (SRDC) and the Springfield Energy Committee, which also shared information on a recent $500 Vtrans grant to help commuters through the Go! Vermont carpool service.
A Streetscape Master Plan website has been set up to help explain the proposed downtown improvements, provide background information, and to seek local feedback. It can be viewed at springfieldmp.wixsite.com/springfield-mp.
For more information on the local carpool service, call (800) 685-RIDE (7433).
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ReplyDeleteDarrell, thank you for that public service announcement.
ReplyDeleteThe roundabout location pictured is unnecessary. They are useful as alternatives to stoplights, which doesn't apply there.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be stoplights there, back when the shops on Clinton St. were running. I'm not sure how a roundabout would improve current traffic flow, though sometimes, such as when school is letting out, things get pretty backed up on Mineral St. One concern is that roundabouts I can recall don't have business driveways opening right into them, but the planned roundabout would have at least one such. So an atypical roundabout, hmm . . .
DeleteBad enough! Now another HEADACHE waiting to happened from ACCIDENT
ReplyDeleteRound-a-bouts do require a modicum of intelligence to navigate; perhaps not the best idea for Springfield......
ReplyDeletePerfect ider, when coming from the interstate, pass the dilapidated old factories and buildings, get to the roundabout, go around, then continue down Clinton street back towards 91.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me it would create a bottleneck unless the lights were timed right. You ARE going to put traffic lights there, right? If not, plan on A WHOLE LOT OF ACCIDENTS!
ReplyDeleteThis will not work with the South st. entrance where it is. Also, for a roundabout to work, there must be four lanes to allow for entrance and exit. Look at the one-lane roundabout in Claremont, off Washington st. During rush hour, the traffic backs up for blocks! I know because I've been stuck in it!
ReplyDelete