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Hold on a second, bub

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News leaked last week that the Springfield-Sangamon Growth Alliance — with the support of various business and civic leaders — was pitching a preliminary plan to build a downtown university campus between Second and Fourth streets to the west and east and Washington and Monroe streets to the north and south.

While there are more questions than answers at this point, Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said it is crucial to get a proposal in front of Gov. J.B. Pritzker as soon as possible, or the capital city could lose out on the “opportunity of a generation.” […]

Many property owners and business owners were caught off guard by the proposal, which seemingly bypasses existing vacant space and empty lots in other parts of downtown in favor of a four-block stretch that currently includes several thriving businesses.

Van Meter said the four-block size was based on preliminary assessments from the universities “that the space requirements were several city blocks size.” He said they also indicated a desire to be in close proximity to the Capitol building and relatively close to the Medical District. The project area also overlaps with the Third Street rail corridor, which could be converted into a greenway or trail once Amtrak is moved to the Tenth Street corridor.

I generally tend to stay out of Springfield politics because I live there, but I gotta say I’m not loving this idea.

* First of all, SIU and UIS have yet to say how much space they’ll actually need. I’m hearing it’s more likely a lot smaller than this gigantic swath…

* Several groups are bouncing around ideas these days. The Springfield-Sangamon Growth Alliance does not have the final say.

Also, if they succeed in dragging this development into numerous eminent domain battles with viable businesses and property owners (several of whom have invested tons of money on improvements), this thing will take years and years to accomplish and will create needless division and likely involve the destruction of historic buildings.

The blighted, city-owned parking garage at Fourth and Washington is a pox on downtown and is there for the taking if the mayor’s hotel development project (sprung with great fanfare during his reelection campaign) dies. Start there if you want. Maybe use some of the adjoining parking lot spaces if need be. Then, work your way out.

Your thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:41 pm

Comments

If you dont get to the trough first, someone will beat you there.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:44 pm
Springfield as compared to other capital cities is an embarrassment. Adding a true college campus to the downtown area would be a plus but I’m afraid too many will be in it to just make a quick buck thus it is doomed to fail.

Comment by Flat Bed Ford Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:46 pm
As a resident … typical Springfield. Proposal requiring tax dollars, concocted in private, exempt from FOIA.

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:50 pm
NO! That is NOT ok to destroy historical buildings when there are empty lots elsewhere. This state has had enough of that mess as is. NO NO NO!

Comment by BHJ867 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:51 pm
why is there a diagonal street only 1/2 block long?

Comment by City Zen Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:52 pm
It would be ironic if this became the new home to a university’s Urban Planning Department.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:53 pm
As a nonresident, what? Unless they’re planning a walled off campus, it really doesn’t need to have
all of the buildings adjacent, just within walking distance and maybe a shuttle service of people who need it.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:54 pm
DH Brown’s, JP Kelly’s, Arlington’s, Custom Cup, Sangamo Club, numerous lobbying firms, a 100+ year old church…yeah, I’m sure the legislature move immediately to help tear all those places down. /a/

Comment by fs Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:55 pm
Has anyone justified university expansion in the first place?

With declining enrollments at many state universities and clear demographic trends, why?

Has Western’s Moline expansion panned out?

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 12:59 pm
47th Ward - Outstanding, thanks for the chuckle.

Comment by Interim Retiree Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:02 pm
How about the space around the Appellate Court and the armory building. It can include an appropriation to build an above-ground parking garage. Or the empty square block near the Court of Claims and the location of the Vinegar Hill Mall. Wherever they place this, it will be a big help for Springfield. Displaced businesses will move and thrive after the initial disruption.

It needs to be downtown, it’s going to upset somebody. it will be great when it is done

Comment by Merica Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:03 pm
City Zen

That is a historical area, I would bet old rail spur to a downtown warehouse that use to exist or Interurban Traction Depot off of the main line that caused city planners to make that street. I would check the old Sanborn Fire Insurance maps to be sure.

This just proves the point that this is a historical area and shouldn’t be touched.

Comment by BHJ867 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:04 pm
Sangamo Club. I don’t think the Speaker will like that.

Comment by very old soil Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:04 pm
What would be taught on this campus? I am guessing this would be an expansion of the SIU med school? If that isn’t the case, why are we building in additional competition for the existing SIU campuses in Edwardsville and Carbondale? This whole thing is a hard pass.

Comment by Saluki Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:04 pm
Perhaps someone should do UIS and SIU the favor of handing them an aerial map of downtown Springfield, on which they could see large swaths of wide-open land just across South 1st St. from the structure-filled footprint they are looking at — or the area bounded by Edwards, College, Cook and Spring - Just as close to the Capitol. Much less resistance. Much less demolition. Leave some original Springfield standing. Perhaps you could offer to drive them around, Rich.

Comment by Strategy Geek Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:08 pm
It’s a no from me, for all the reasons mentioned above, plus the fact that UIS has tons of developable land on their main campus.

Comment by Benjamin Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:17 pm
=smaller than this gigantic swath=
{Sigh} Go big or go home… in this case dream big and then blame others for failure to big a campus downtown.

Why not buy the building that is owned by the be Sheriffs Association (used to house SOS employees) on 4th Street next to the St. Nick? Tear down that horrible parking garage and build a new one. Then start renovating all of these empty buildings downtown? Have 4th as the hub and increase the foot traffic in hopes of helping downtown businesses.

But as part of this plan, you have to add something that will keep people downtown after 5pm.

Comment by {Sigh} Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:17 pm
Picking up on Cheryl44’s comment: look at the NYU campus. It’s spread over both adjacent and non-adjacent buildings in Greenwich Village.

As long as the buildings are relatively close, seems you might get more bang for your buck by spreading campus life over a larger geographic area.

Comment by Moe Berg Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:18 pm
City Zen -
The building across the alley from the back of the Lutheran Church was once a fire house. Perhaps the alley was so they could enter from the rear of the house?

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:25 pm
That diagonal street, City Zen, is S’field’s own Broadway–I believe it is the shortest street named Broadway in the country.

Comment by G'Kar Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:25 pm
IMO economic development alliances are tools used by cowardly politicians and special interest groups. They deserve no seats at the table.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:35 pm
Strategy Geek beat me to it. Here’s the satellite view of that area: https://goo.gl/maps/gyGdSiMnbXCP4nik8

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:51 pm
More surface lots than anywhere I’ve ever seen in my life and they are used seasonally. The parking addiction is real and the soul of the town is shows it. Just that little snapshot. Ridiculous.

Comment by Sonny Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:51 pm
Benedictine abandoned their university in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. I don’t see why that wouldn’t work, it is relatively close to downtown, already exists and the Enos Park neighborhood is doing whatever they can to attract people to live there now that the YMCA has moved forward with its TIF funded expansion.

Comment by Kentucky Bluegrass x Featherbed Bent x Northern California Sinsemilla Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:52 pm
This will not happen

Comment by Eire17 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 1:58 pm
“The new name, Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, came about as the result of working with a consultant to help with branding and marketing efforts.”

And they stumble, badly, right out of the gate…sigh.

https://springfieldbusinessjournal.com/2019/11/land-of-lincoln-economic-development-corporation-changes-name-location/

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:05 pm
Covered in CapFax on July 9: https://tinyurl.com/ud82knm

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:06 pm
*July 19. Sorry.

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:06 pm
There is a problem with a campus downtown and with any building going in north of the Governors mansion: where are the people going to park. As far as a college downtown, that opportunity was missed when the State Police moved into the old Franklin Life Ins. building. There was room plus parking galore but that’s out now. The proposal as its stands wont fly. The Benedictine property is available with 3 basketball courts in a 2 block area, 2 skating rinks, softball diamonds, horseshoe pits, plenty of open area at Lincoln Park plus some housing for students. I have no idea why no college/university is interested.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:09 pm
Couldn’t they just repurpose the Illinois State Armory right across the street?

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:23 pm
If you’re bulldozing buildings, how about the Armory and/or the Stratton. Mixed use higher ed/legislative buidings to maximize interaction/educational opportunities.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:28 pm
“Couldn’t they just repurpose the Illinois State Armory right across the street?” Probably not. As I understand it, the building is basically two towers with a big empty space between, meaning there’s no way to get from one end to the other without going to the ground first, which is impractical.

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:29 pm
“how about the Armory and/or the Stratton” Great idea, but who is going to pay for the building for all the people that are currently in the Stratton?

Comment by Skeptic Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 2:32 pm
“Or the area bounded by Edwards, College, Cook and Spring - Just as close to the Capitol. Much less resistance. Much less demolition.”

Yes, this. There’s at least that much empty space in that area and with far fewer historic buildings and/or small businesses.

Comment by wildcat12 Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 3:05 pm
they want to build a law school, and considering Springfield is one of the only capital cities in the country that doesn’t have one, I’m all for the idea. Bring more students to springfield and force them to utilize downtown.

Comment by short staffer Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 3:13 pm
Springfield will have a college presence downtown just as soon as they get done building Lake II.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 3:44 pm
Not a wise choice for all the reasons listed above. However, when it appears that an idea came out of nowhere, it usually didn’t. Who’s earning with this plan?

Comment by Jibba Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 4:06 pm
Excellent idea. Gives us lots of food for thought. It should last as a guideline for what we don’t want to do. We already have lots of empty space. We have dilapidated buildings. We have historic buildings, which any other city would be striving to preserve. It’s almost as though Trump took a sharpie to the downtown w this idea. Obnoxious nonstarter.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 4:18 pm
Skeptic I heard that the reason the State Police moved out was it would cost to much to remodel and rewire that old building. As far as expanding the UIS campus, I think I would wait to see if the enrollment goes up first.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 4:18 pm
===If you’re bulldozing buildings, how about the Armory==

Capital bill appropriates $110 million to renovate the Armory.

Comment by Nick Name Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 4:20 pm
Look no further than NEIU Eminent Domain misuse in 2014-2015. https://youtu.be/r4hdQglN2W0

Comment by Wash Rinse Repeat Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 4:40 pm
To me it seems like UIS & SIU should treat it almost like an RFP process. They could publicly release a proposal for a downtown campus, outline what they’re looking for (location, square footage, etc.) and let any group or property owner submit a proposal so there can be a discussion of what idea would work best for the downtown. The last thing Springfield needs is a lengthy battle over something that could be a plus for the community. But there are certainly enough parking lots in downtown that I don’t see a need to target existing occupied buildings.

Comment by MyTwoCents Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 5:02 pm
I guess they are trying to situate themselves equidistantly between the Capitol and the hospitals, but every single option suggested above by people who apparently lack Blue Ribbon Committee status, makes more sense than this proposal.

Comment by SAP Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 5:24 pm
I will personally lie in front of the bulldozer at D.H.Brown’s. Preserve the Sangomo Club, future site of the Speakers retirement party.

Comment by Nitemayor Monday, Dec 9, 19 @ 5:56 pm
– Capital bill appropriates $110 million to renovate the Armory. –

For what? Another “pretty” empty building in downtown Springfield?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 8:29 am
===For what? Another “pretty” empty building in downtown Springfield?===

Defeatist attitudes get you nowhere. And a few seconds on Google might have helped you.

https://tinyurl.com/swuxtvx

Also, I was wrong. It’s $122 million.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 9:07 am
I like the Armory idea. It is an eye sore

Comment by Peanut Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 1:52 pm
And the Old Springfield College- Benedictine

Comment by Peanut Tuesday, Dec 10, 19 @ 1:53 pm