Mayor Warren Copeland announces outcomes of Springfield Urban Design Workshop
February 28, 2006 (Springfield, Ohio) - This evening at The Westcott House, major stakeholders and public officials celebrated plans for the future of downtown Springfield developed during a Springfield Urban Design Workshop sponsored by Center City Association and The Westcott House Foundation. At the press conference hosted at The Westcott House by Community Mercy Health Partners, Mayor Copeland shared with guests the vision for future downtown development, an action plan for moving forward, and the importance of engaging the public in continued dialog shaping the city's future.
The purpose of the Springfield Urban Design Workshop was to bring together major investors to establish a vision for the redevelopment of downtown Springfield. The recent decision by Community Mercy Health Partners to build a new $300 M hospital downtown and the strong commitment by Wittenberg University's new president to downtown investment provide a unique opportunity to shape the city's development over the next fifty years. Over fifty participants representing eight major stakeholders attended the two-day program. During the workshop, downtown investors shared their individual plans and discussed collaborative efforts for shaping the successful future of the community.
The Mayor praised the joint efforts by participants over the two days, "One of the most exciting outcomes is the commitment by all those present to work together as we move forward with long-term plans for downtown development."
She shared the following plans for downtown developed during the workshop:
Initial Concepts
A. Vision for Downtown Springfield
—Dreams for the Future:
- Vibrant downtown
- Attract diversity, businesses, visitors, and residents
- Celebrate unique architecture
- Attract mixed investment in retail, commercial, residential, and cultural entities
—Design Guidelines:
1. Promote high standards of design through design review and other incentives.
2. Preserve historically and architecturally-significant buildings and construct new buildings that complement the historic architecture of downtown—Our unique architecture provides downtown Springfield with its unique identity.
3. Take advantage of the natural beauty of Buck Creek.
4. Take advantage of green space to create an appealing setting for development and to link land uses, increase property values, and strengthen quality of life in our community.
5. Develop a thoughtful plan for parking with a priority on retaining urban street frontage to encourage pedestrian traffic.
6. Encourage open communication in all legislation and provide ongoing opportunity for community involvement.
B. Initial Investment
1. Develop and oversee the regulatory process.
2. Evaluate opportunities and develop a "hot zone."
3. Establish plans to develop and reinforce residential neighborhoods west of the new hospital and east of Wittenberg University.
At the conclusion of the press conference, Mayor Copeland reminded guests that the Springfield Urban Design Workshop builds upon the work initiated by a Wittenberg Urban Studies Analysis of Springfield in 1997 and the R/UDAT Regional / Urban Design Assistance Team in 2002.
He urged members of the community to get involved, "We have now identified guidelines to shape future development and an initial area for investment. There is much more work to be done. We will be engaging the community over time in shaping and refining plans for the community that we love."
There will be a meeting for downtown businesses and cultural organizations for this purpose on March 22nd from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott.
About the Sponsors
Center City Association was established to support the continuing evolution of an aesthetically pleasing downtown center that serves as the hub of the civic, business, cultural, and recreational life of the Springfield / Clark County community.
The Westcott House Foundation was established in 2001 to manage the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's only Prairie Style home in Ohio. Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and Burton Westcott, both innovators and entrepreneurs, its vision for the future is to become a Center of Excellence for Design and Innovation.
For more information contact:
Jenny Baader
Center City Association
937-325-0047
Rob Kearns
The Westcott House Foundation
937-325-1300
Mayor Warren Copeland
937-324-0833