Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A new Master Plan for downtown Springfield and the Mid-Illinois Medical District was unveiled Thursday at an open house at the Memorial Learning Center. It outlines a vision for a greener, more walkable, and bike-friendly downtown with increased housing options. In development since 2021, the plan incorporates community feedback.Some of the key takeaways related to land use include:

  • Diminished tax base: Springfield has a large amount of land used by nontaxable entities.
  • Reduce surface parking: Much of the area is dedicated to parking.
  • Increase density: Conversion of low-density buildings into multi-story structures.
  • Increase housing: Add more residential space for legislative staff, lobbyists, and SIU medical students.
  • Reduce vacancies: A vacant building registry was suggested.

See the Master Plan in its entirety

Josh Koonce of Houseal Lavigne, the Chicago-based urban planning firm behind the plan, said Springfield’s challenges also offer opportunities. “There are a lot of spaces downtown that aren’t as active as they could be. There’s a lot of surface parking, which makes it less interesting for people to walk around. But those areas create potential for future development.”

Retired resident Keith Tuxhorn attended the open house and liked the focus on making downtown greener, but felt the plan could go further. “We’ve got a lot of single-level parking, and there’s no need for that anymore,” he said.

Chris Richmond, president of Moving Pillsbury Forward, praised the plan’s vision for making downtown more walkable, adding more greenery, calming traffic, and introducing bike lanes. However, he asked, “Who is coordinating the efforts? At what expense? Where’s the timeline?” He said he hopes to see the answers to those questions in the coming days and weeks.

The plan is a collaboration between the City of Springfield, Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, Downtown Springfield, Inc., and the Mid-Illinois Medical District.

Carlos Ortega, executive director of Downtown Springfield, Inc., said he’s looking forward to working with the city and all the other partners to start establishing ways to make changes within the environment and foster a new way to talk about downtown. “There’s a lot of negativity out there within the downtown landscape. I believe if people look around that, they actually can see the good that our downtown has,” he said. It’s about using underutilized resources, according to Ortega, and working toward future development for the community and generations to come.

There are two more in-person opportunities to learn more about the Master Plan:

  • Friday, Oct. 25
    8:00-9:00 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
    Citizen’s Club at Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St., Springfield
  • Tuesday, Nov. 12
    5:30 p.m.
    Springfield City Council presentation