South End Revitalization Plan PHASE 2

South End Revitalization Plan PHASE 2 Funded by: May 2014 DRAFT 2011 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant City of Springfield DevelopSpringfield Springfield Housing Authority Local Partners South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Letter from Mayor Sarno Draft for Community Review/Comment South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Table of Contents Chapter I. Executive Summary Chapter II. Setting the Context Chapter III. Community Engagement Chapter IV. Neighborhood Strategy Chapter V. Housing Strategy Chapter VI. Resident Needs Assessment Chapter VII. People Strategy Chapter VIII. Implementation Appendix (under separate cover) Draft for Community Review/Comment South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Acknowledgements Draft for Community Review/Comment South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Chapter I Executive Summary Draft for Community Review/Comment I-1 Chapter I. Executive Summary Chapter I Executive Summary Table of Contents A. Target Site and Neighborhood................ I-1 B. Recent South End Planning & Implementation Initiatives.................... I-2 C. Highlights of the Revitalization Plan ....... I-2 D. Implementation ................................ I-10 Tables Figures Table I-1. Key Goals for the South End Revitalization Figure I-1. South End Master Plan Plan: Phase 2 Figure I-2. Outing Park Historic District Master Plan I-2 Draft for Community Review/Comment South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Chapter I Chapter I Executive Summary Executive Summary Table of Contents The South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2, A. Target Site and Neighborhood north-south through the neighborhood and leads funded by a 2011 Choice Neighborhoods to the heart of the city, is a major connector and The South End neighborhood is the smallest of planning grant and locally leveraged funds, a prime but deteriorated commercial corridor Springfield’s 17 neighborhoods with a population continues the revitalization effort in the South that is slowly rebuilding itself with the help of the in 2010 of 4,386 residents. It is the southern End neighborhood in Springfield, Massachusetts. City and a recent substantial investment in new gateway to Downtown Springfield and is bounded Once a bustling tight-knit community of Italian- streetscape along Main Street. by Maple Street to the east, Mill Street to the American homeowners along the residential streets, south, the Connecticut River to the west, and with restaurants and neighborhood businesses The two targeted housing sites for the CNI- Bliss Street to the north. Main Street, which runs along Main Street, today the South End suffers funded planning effort are the HUD-assisted from long-term disinvestment and more recently a properties—Concord Heights and Outing Park devastating tornado that tore through the heart of Apartments (collectively known as Outing Park) the city in June 2011. Based on community and —and the Springfield Housing Authority’s Marble stakeholder input, this plan builds off of earlier BOSTON Street Apartments, adjacent to Outing Park. This plans to guide the holistic transformation of this configuration has resulted in a dense concentration key Springfield neighborhood. Detailed strategies of approximately 350 deeply subsidized units in have been developed, metrics have been identified a neighborhood with a 45 percent poverty rate. to measure progress towards preferred outcomes, PROVIDENCE The area has long been the target of regional drug implementation partners are in place, and a variety dealers who sell to both wholesale and retail buyers of funding sources have been identified to continue and, as a result, the South End has a violent crime the South End revitalization effort. There is strong rate that is nearly three times higher than the rate momentum in place to move these strategies from for the City as a whole. This is the number one vision to reality. issue for residents and community stakeholders. State context Draft for Community Review/Comment I-1 Key Goals for the South End Revitaliza- tion Plan: Phase 2 Chapter I. Executive Summary B. Recent South End Planning and C. Highlights of the Revitalization Plan Implementation Initiatives The City has targeted the South End for a multi- In June 2011, a tornado ripped through downtown The South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 year revitalization effort since 2007 when a ULI Springfield and cut a mile swath through several provides a detailed roadmap for continuing the Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) developed neighborhoods, including the South End. A planning and implementation process that is a redevelopment strategy that focused on the broad-based and inclusive planning process ensued already underway. In Table I-1, key goals for area to the east of Main Street where vacant which involved multiple stakeholder conversations each of the critical components of a viable and land was plentiful and the distressed Outing and public meetings attracting more than 3,000 sustainable neighborhood—Neighborhood, Park Apartments were driving neighborhood residents. The resultant recovery master plan Housing and People—have been articulated with renters and owners out of the area. A key was detailed in the ReBuild Springfield Plan, input from the community. Highlights of each of outcome of the TAP report was the creation of with separate plans prepared for three impacted these components follow. the South End Revitalization Coalition (SERC) districts. District One plan covers the downtown to engage a broader group of residents and area and the South End neighborhood. stakeholders in the redevelopment process. The With the award of a 2011 Choice Neighborhoods recommendations from the report set the stage Planning Grant, the City has been able to continue and direction for the work in the South End that more detailed planning, using the ReBuild continues today. To reinforce the City’s focus Springfield Plan as the foundation, and therefore on revitalizing this neighborhood, it has been a has entitled the CNI Revitalization Plan as a designated Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Phase 2 document. Since the earlier plan focused Area (NRSA) since 2008 and a Neighborhood more on neighborhood improvements, this Phase Stabilization Program (NSP) area since 2009. 2 Revitalization Plan includes more detailed The South End Urban Renewal Plan was planning for the Housing and People components. amended in 2009 to allow for the expansion These two revitalization plans have also been and redevelopment of Emerson Wight Park, informed by and coordinated with the regional which is now complete. Main Street streetscape Sustainable Communities planning effort led by improvements were completed in 2010 and the the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) former Gemini site was remediated to make way and the CDBG-DR Action Plan prepared for the for future development. $21.9 million disaster recovery effort. I-2 Draft for Community Review/Comment South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Table I-1. Key Goals for the South End Revitalization Plan: Phase 2 Neighborhood The Neighborhood Strategy represents a finetuning Neighborhood of improvements and initiatives that were N1 Residents and visitors view the South End as a safe place to live, work and shop. recommended in previous plans, especially the N2 Main Street returns to a vibrant commercial district supporting the needs of residents and visitors. Rebuild Springfield Plan. Several investments have already been made including streetscape Open space and recreational opportunities are available to and used by all ages. N3 improvements to Main Street, redevelopment N4 The South End attracts an economically diverse residential population. of the Emerson Wight Park, remediation of N5 Improved connectivity within the neighborhood benefits both access to amenities and public safety. a Brownfield site, and the acquisition and demolition of blighted properties. Other projects Housing in the planning and design phase include the H1 The substantial rehabilitation of Outing Park Apartments is completed. extension of Ashmun to Marble Street, the H2 Marble Street units are demolished and replaced in safe neighborhoods of opportunity less impacted by concen- construction of a new South End Community trated poverty and racial segregation. Center, and façade improvements and the H3 A responsible relocation plan for Marble Street residents is developed and implemented. expansion of the Business Improvement District (BID) along Main Street. People P1 Work-able residents have viable employment options leading to greater economic stability and financial indepen- Most importantly, hearing the community’s dence. number one priority of improving public safety P2 Children, youth and adults are physically and mentally healthy. and reducing crime, the City has applied for and P3 Children and youth have access to a continuum of high quality education programs and services that support been awarded a Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation them from “cradle to career”. grant to implement in the South End the successful community policing initiative piloted in another neighborhood. The Counter Criminal Continuum (C3) Policing strategy is grounded in community outreach, youth and parental workshops, business and community leadership development, and law enforcement operations. Still in the assessment and planning stages, full scale implementation of the C3 initiative will begin in early 2015. Draft for Community Review/Comment I-3 Chapter I. Executive Summary Figure I-1. South End Master Plan P.ARK ST CENTER I-4 Draft for Community Review/Comment

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