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Selectboard approves downtown portion of strategic plan
www.eagletimes.com
2016-04-14 / Front Page
Selectboard approves downtown portion of strategic plan
The Town of Springfield’s municipal offices building is one of several government buildings the town strategic plan has targeted for revitalization. — NANCY CAVANAUGH
By Nancy A. Cavanaugh
ncavanaugh@eagletimes.com
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Selectboard has completed work for the downtown revitalization goal of the town strategic plan and unanimously approved all objectives and action steps at its Monday meeting.
The work began last October when the selectboard held a strategic planning session to discuss what to focus on in the strategic plan for the town. Selectboard member Walter Martone wrote up the first draft of the plan based on notes taken from the meeting.
On Feb. 22, the board approved the plan’s first objective, which dealt with rivers and recreation. The other goals are improving residential and rental housing stock, developing organization structure for redevelopment and revitalization, and public improvements.
The second objective, which was modified to not include specific locations following issues with naming locations in the first objective, is to “redevelop, improve aesthetics and promote retail and other business use of downtown buildings,” according to the plan.
The first action step calls for the town manager, Springfield Regional Development Corp., Springfield On the Move (SOM) and the selectboard to work with a minimum of three designated downtown buildings to redevelop or create partnerships or encourage ownership changes to achieve the objective’s goal of improving the downtown area. This step is expected to be completed by December 2017.
The second action step involves the Woolson Block, which is already being handled by Springfield Housing Unlimited. The nonprofit has recently entered into an options agreement to purchase the property for $200,000, and will be renovating the building to have businesses on the first floor and housing on the second and third floors. The selectboard set a target review date of February 2017.
The third action step includes alterations to government owned buildings including the U.S. Post Office, Springfield Community Center and town hall. Selectboard member George McNaughton questioned if this step needed to be included.
“I think we do [need to include it],” said Town Manager Tom Yennerell. “They’re all government buildings, I’m in agreement with it. We should consider the town hall exterior for some improvements. Springfield on the Move has been working with the post office.”
McNaughton was unsure about all but the community center.
“They don’t leap out at me. The community center, yeah, I guess I don’t know,” he said.
Carol Lighthall, executive director of SOM, spoke about the post office work.
“The post office discussion started last year. The postal system held back their ability to improve the building. It is a work in progress to improve the interior and exterior,” she explained.
The target date of completion for the post office was December 2017, the town hall December 2018 and the community center December 2016.
The third objective was to establish an organizational structure with the first action step being for two members of the selectboard, SOM and the town manager to visit other municipalities in Vermont that have had successful downtown revitalization projects to see what the towns did and how they accomplished the project.
Martone and Peter E. MacGillivray volunteered as selectboard members. The target date for completion was set for September of this year.
After completion of the first action step, the next one would be to have a discussion by the selectboard to see if members want to consider developing a course of action for addressing the blight referendum for the designated downtown area.
The remaining three action steps for the third objective were eliminated from this version of the strategic plan.
The fourth objective was to create a plan for infrastructure work to be done in the downtown area. All of the items listed will be included in the $67,500 Stronger Communities, Better Connections grant that the town received in January. The grant will allow the town to hire a consultant to explore ways to improve the downtown area.
The grant will include sidewalks and redesign of existing sidewalks, roads and intersections, pedestrian conveniences, bicycling conveniences, vegetation and trees, streetscapes, signage and other items as deemed appropriate. They were all incorporated into the action step.
“I’m encouraged that you’re doing this to get some traffic and to have them stop,” said Springfield resident Woody Bickford. “You need destinations. Years ago, they didn’t want tourists. Look at Woodstock. People flock in there.”
Martone, and others, commented that the plan wasn’t necessarily being used to create destinations or attract tourists.
“It is not intended to be a comprehensive economic plan. We want business to see that we are attractive, have good conveniences, great infrastructure. These will make us a destination,” replied Martone.
McNaughton made a motion to eliminate action steps two and three as they were incorporated into action step one, which passed unanimously. Then he made a motion to accept goal one as complete for this edition. It passed unanimously.
At its next meeting on Monday, April 25, the selectboard will start the goal for improving residential and rental housing stock.
Without acknowledgment of why retail businesses chronically fail on Main Street, no strategic plan will have an impact. Bottom line, it's demographics stupid. When Springfield's feckless selectboard allowed low income housing to expand to the point that over 2/3 of the population is on the dole, no desirable enterprise can flourish.
ReplyDeleteSo what's the selectboard do, but encourage housing for criminals that belong in a youth detention center right on the town square! You can't make this stuff up.
You could always run for Selectman if you're not happy with the current board.
Delete8:04, what is your source for the claim that 2/3ds of the population is on the dole?
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that the board is trying and in many cases, doing something. However, I do agree with 8:04 that the Woolson Block should be used for means other than some type of correctional institution. Who wants their business underneath a bunch of crazed criminal kids stomping and screaming. It's the heart of the square. They made mention of Woodstock recently and how people "flock" there. You would never see low income housing or correctional stuff on Main St. in Woodstock. Neverrrrrrrr. It's a challenging issue I guess, but I think it's time the town started taking care of the law abiding instead of the opposite and start giving me a reason to stop my exodus 11 miles away to Claremont everytime I need something.
ReplyDeleteHm, you don't like what was done at the theater?
DeleteDid you forget there used to be a correctional facility on Main Street in Woodstock?
DeleteJames, the theater itself has been successful mainly because of the hard working entrepreneurial spirit of its owners. Beyond that, the new, retail store fronts have remained largely vacant just like the rest of Main Street. A $4.6M renovation of the Wilson Block wont have its store fronts in any greater demand. The Woolson Block is of no architectural or historical significance. tearing it down would open the river view and potentially attract efficient, modern construction.
DeleteUsed to be...being the key term
DeleteI agree with 11:44am. I truly the Woolson Block were going for a different use. I consider myself fairly liberal, and I still can recognize that making low income housing for behaviorally-challenged youth is not the best way to revitalize a downtown. Additionally, whenever I read these stories, there's always mention of creating more parking downtown. Why all the need for extra parking if the number of businesses there keeps dwindling?
ReplyDeleteThe single biggest reason Springfield's downtown is bereft of businesses is, quite simply, Wal-Mart. Their average store has a competitive advantage no local business would ever have-- from half a million to a million dollars of taxpayers' money subsidizing their criminally underpaid employees. Once a Wal-Mart has destroyed the competition, it then jacks up the prices-- but not the wages. We can do something about this, but we don't think about trying.
ReplyDeleteChuck, do you think shopping more at Wally World can fix this? That way they will have to hire more criminally underpaid employees thus lowering the taxes spent on welfare and unemployment. I am not really sure that they are hiring criminals for employees though. I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a Walmart employee and he says that happy employee has no criminal record. Go figure!
Deletethe professional building next door to Bibens is almost empty save for a hair salon and orthdontist; how about utilizing the remainder of the building for a senior center; plenty of parking; no stairs; no crossing Main St and taking your life in your hands; there have been several auto accidents when senior are trying to cross the street and cars rearend each other because some drivers do not stop for crosswalks (it is just a matter of time until a senior is run over); that building makes more sense that spending money of that old wreck on Main St which would fall down if an elevator were put into it
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea... er, does the town own that building? I'm guessing not; so what's your plan?
DeleteWell, I know this is asking a bit much for the residents to get involved and actually take an active role because as we know VERY well if it isn't crashing through most of Springfield residents doors then they are not willing to put themselves out there.
ReplyDeleteThese types of facilities and housing are BIG BIG BUSINESS these days. They are a money maker. Look around you at what you have allowed in under the guise that it is to rehabilitate blah blah blah. I would suggest a public showing/screening of "KIDS FOR CASH" it is a documentary available on Netflix. Watch that and then think about what is gaining a foothold in the community. There will NEVER be ANY revitalization as long as you have an element of undesirable populous around. Take a drive through wealthy shopping districts and neighborhoods. You WILL NOT find any housing projects, low income housing, drug rehab for regular people, prisons. None of it. WHY? Because money buys happiness and security and NOBODY and I mean NOBODY from homebuyers to tourists will come within 100 feet of any district with that going on. Wake up Springfield. It takes a village to raise a kid...it takes a community to stand up and say ENOUGH and back your leaders down. You have to spend time out of your own personal life and put forth effort to improve things. Whether that be running for a position on the select board, school board, or just organizing a community clean up or paint day. Its very very sad what I see and it is what is driving away decent families and or businesses. ( I wont get started on the lack of vision the select board has)