It was only early this month that we became aware that this governor had any interest in the vacant lot across from his Springfield house. Before that, the Y Block was a Springfield project, which had absorbed plenty of local planning and design ideas, if not consensus or funding. Now, the General Assembly has appropriated $4 million to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for design and construction of the project, so development is likely to proceed. That’s probably good, but how much say will Springfield residents have in what gets built? Will local designers, architects, contractors and labor be used? In his Citizens Club appearance May 2, Pritzker insisted the project is still in the discussion stage, and it’s a “collaboration” with the city that hasn’t been “concluded.” But he added, “What is on the table now is much further along than it has ever been.” And he said it will be finished before his current term ends. We noticed the legislation includes a new name for the Y Block. Now, according to Pritzker, it’s the Governor’s Mansion Block.– Fletcher Farrar, editor
This article appears in High expectations.
