Springfield was born downtown, before there was a
downtown, at the corner of Jefferson and Klein, where the first
“permanent” structure was built. With the infusion of visitors
taking in the new Abraham Presidential Library and Museum, the heart of the
city is pumping with new vigor. Just ask Victoria Clemons, executive director of
Downtown Springfield Inc., an organization dedicated to making downtown
Springfield an ideal place in which to shop, work, visit, invest, and live.
“Starting in 2005, between 17 and 20 new
businesses, some replacing existing enterprises, have opened downtown.
Infill construction, erecting new structures in empty lots, is a sure sign
of revitalization.” An example: the new primary health care building
on Ninth Street across from the Lincoln Home. Many yardsticks are used to mark and measure a
downtown — historical haven, center of commerce, or hub of
government, to name a few. Perhaps the simplest way to define
Springfield’s downtown is this: It’s the heart of the capital
city. “We don’t have specific borders,” Clemons says.
“Springfield Clinic’s expansion is considered a downtown
project. Some people take it as far as South Grand. The streetscaping and
plans for the new medical district are tying into downtown.”
Like a magnificent magnet, the presidential museum has
drawn visitors like gangbusters. Just 21 months after the museum’s
opening, the millionth visitor passed through the gate of the facility, a
record pace for any presidential museum. And in 2006, Springfield
Convention and Visitors Bureau recorded nearly 2.4 million visits to the
capital city’s tourism sites. “What’s significant about last year is
that folks from all over the city started seeing downtown as the true
destination from which to hold an event,” Clemons says, “Route
66 and the Cruise for Charity are held here, to name a few. “We also had record number of inquiries from
people wanting to open a business. We have a running inventory of space
available.” Much of the storefront space is necessarily boutique and
office space. “Any large retailer would have to go with infill
construction, say, at Fifth at Jefferson. Businesses, which complement
rather than compete with existing ones are sought. We are concentrating on
services development to serve the growing residential populace, and I know
a great new shoe shop is coming.”
In increasing numbers, local merchants are seeing the
appeal of a downtown location, and DSI has enjoyed a dramatic increase in
membership. Visible downtown improvements are helping that growth spurt
along, Clemons says. Heavily involved in the city’s Readiness
Committee, DSI was one of several groups that joined forces in advance of
the presidential library and museum’s opening. The partnership will
be around for years to come as its members work toward the 2009
bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth. Anticipating the visitors Springfield will play host
to, the Readiness Committee has paid particular attention to downtown
revitalization and beautification, and, Clemons says, “it made a big
difference.”
Grants from the city helped pay for facelifts of
several downtown buildings. This type of work is coordinated with the
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; anyone who buys or leases a
renovated property agrees to maintain that special “downtown
look.” Beautification of the downtown and the main byways into the
city was just one piece of the puzzle faced by the Readiness Committee,
which had to develop strategies for a multitude of tasks and issues. They succeeded, as demonstrated by the resounding
success of the presidential museum from day one. Along with the library,
the positive momentum created by the Readiness Committee’s teamwork
is a lasting legacy. Your next trip to downtown Springfield is likely to
bring you face to face with a strong sense of community pride accompanied
by a down-home, hospitable feel. “It’s a happy town,”
says Clemons of the city’s friendly spirit. “Every day
you’ll see people helping each other.”
Helping the downtown community continues to be the
driving force behind DSI as it rides the wave of success. Working through
10 councils, most of which meet monthly, DSI focuses on every aspect that
could boost downtown’s success — from image and design to
membership and community relations. In addition, as one of 58 Illinois
“Main Street Communities” (a program sanctioned by the office
of Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn), DSI works to fulfill guidelines set by the National
Trust for Historic Preservation. The guidelines are related to design,
economic development, organization, and promotion. New kids on the block will become part of a strong
downtown presence. Already Springfield’s downtown boasts more than
200 businesses, offering everything a shopper or diner could desire. From a
bookstore carrying rare collector’s editions to an Italian-food mart
that’s been in the same family for a century, downtown Springfield
seeks to satisfy every taste in gifts, clothing, furniture, artwork,
jewelry, and, of course, food. Nearly all of the 45 restaurants in downtown
Springfield are one of a kind. “Most are mom-and-pop places, with
very eclectic offerings,” says Clemons. “They all bring their
own personalities to their businesses.”
In addition to tackling unique projects such as the
presidential-museum opening, DSI sponsors six annual events designed to
broaden exposure to downtown retail businesses and restaurants. A
self-guided architectural walking tour, held on the first Wednesday of the
month, May-October, is popular, as is the “Blues & BBQ” event, which attracted 5,000
last year.
Special events aside, the everyday bustle of downtown
Springfield will likely keep blossoming. “In five years, the city
will be different,” says Clemons, who predicts continued growth and
renovation in the downtown area. You may, for example, find an antique
district. On a grander scale, a full-fledged medical district is in the
works. You will most certainly find more singles and couples calling the
downtown area home. In fact, residential development is the next big step
for downtown Springfield. “We want to bring residents in and bring
services like small grocery stores and dry cleaners in simultaneously to
support those living here,” says Clemons. The downtown area already has a handful of good-size
residential apartment complexes, and now DSI is seeing an increase in
upper-level development. “We have added rooms,” she says.
“There are two or three new residential opportunities on the 300
block of Adams. At First at Washington, Bruce Ferry is developing four
apartments.” She predicts that as time draws near to the expiration
of TIF District financial aid in 2016, the influence of interest in new
development will increase.
Clemons expects the new dwellings to appeal to young
professionals looking for convenience and that “loft feel,”
characterized by exposed beams, brick, and ductwork. It would appear that the pendulum is swinging back
toward downtown. Clemons views it as a balancing out of the urban sprawl
seen in the 1970s and ’80s.
“It’s coming back in,” she says.
“People are looking for a sense of tradition and a hometown
feel.”
For Clemons, the growing enthusiasm for downtown is
more than welcome. After all, as she says, “If the hub of your city
isn’t strong, your city isn’t strong.”
— Celeste Huttes, with additional reporting by
Job Conger
This article appears in May 25-31, 2006.
