REBUILD SPRINGFIELD PROGRESS REPORT 2014 Springfield REBUILD SPRINGFIELD PLAN Redevelopment Progress Report 2014 Authority PROGRESS REPORT 2014 What began three years ago as tornado recovery has become something much more powerful. On June 1, 2011, the gale force winds that pushed through Springfield left both rubble and hardship in their wake. But that was then. Now, we come together to remember not the devastation that was put upon us, but the strength with which we’ve met the challenge. While the tornado changed the face of many Springfield neighborhoods, it is not that force that has charted our course forward. It is our residents, businesses, public servants, and nonprofit partners who have re-energized our city and proactively planned its redevelopment. Photo credit: The Republican When we began the Rebuild Springfield planning process, more than 3,000 residents participated in setting redevelopment priorities for our tornado-damaged districts and for strengthening the city as a whole. Today, many of those people are still at work creating change within our community. If you drive through Springfield today, you will see the early fruits of our labors: beautiful new homes are going up on Central Street, thousands of trees have been replanted, parks have been restored, the rehabilitation of Union Station is underway and the South End is poised for major new investment. In fact, an estimated $2.48 billion in new investment in private and public development projects is currently planned or underway. Though we have made great progress, work still remains to be done. Unlike the fast and random acts of nature, the redevelopment process can be lengthy. However, even some of the largest and most difficult jobs, such as the replacement of Cathedral High School and the development of a new South End Community Center, are now seeing action. What began three years ago as tornado recovery has turned into the building of a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Springfield. Respectfully, Domenic J. Sarno Mayor 2 REBUILD SPRINGFIELD Progress Report 2014 ABOUT THE REBUILD SPRINGFIELD PLAN The Rebuild Springfield Plan is a city-wide master plan designed to provide a framework for addressing the redevelopment needs of neighborhoods impacted by the June 1, 2011 tornado. Additionally, the plan serves as a guide for addressing a wide range of issues relevant to the city as a whole. Tornado-impacted neighborhoods are grouped into three districts, each with respective sections in the plan. City-wide focus areas are divided into six sec- tions referred to as nexus domains. These domains en- compass the physical, cultural, social, organizational, educational, and economic components of a healthy Photo credit: The Republican and vibrant community. The Rebuild Springfield Plan Gerald Hayes and Nick Fyntrilakis, co-chairs of the includes specific recommendations and strategies for Rebuild Springfield Plan during the meeting to unveil the each district and domain developed through input master plan. from experts in a variety of fields, City leaders and staff, businesses and nonprofit organizations, and have assisted in the rebuild effort in countless more than 3,000 individuals who participated in the other ways. Implementing the Rebuild Plan is a planning process. collaborative and ongoing effort that continues as Just as the plan was developed through a broad- we work together to build a stronger Springfield. based and inclusive process, implementing its recom- The Rebuild Springfield Plan was released to the mendations has involved the efforts of numerous City public in the spring of 2012. This publication is departments, state and federal agencies, businesses, intended to provide a brief overview of the progress nonprofits, and individual citizens from every Spring- that has been made since that time. It is, of course, field neighborhood. In fact, before organized rebuild only a snapshot, as no summary can fully articulate efforts were underway, 162 property owners whose the breadth of work that has been accomplished, homes were condemned due to tornado damage made adequately acknowledge those who have participated repairs on their own — and twenty-one people whose in the process to date, or completely outline what homes were demolished built new homes. Hundreds remains to done. The full text of the Rebuild more volunteered for recovery-assistance initiatives, Springfield Plan is available online at participated in community-planning processes and www.DevelopSpringfield.com. 1182 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 413-209-8808 www.developspringfield.com Progress Report 2014 REBUILD SPRINGFIELD 3 REBUILD SPRINGFIELD PLAN PrOGREss HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE EDUCATIONAL DOMAIN $ ECONOMIC DOMAIN • New school construction and rehabilitation • Major medical campus expansions in projects completed or underway Metro Center and the North End • Expanded library hours implemented • State Data Center completed at the former • New adult education, job training, and advanced Technical High School, preserving the Elliot Street degree offerings façade and providing an estimated 100 permanent jobs • UMass joins Cambridge College and Bay Path College, opening a satellite downtown campus • MGM proposes transformative investments in Metro Center and South End • Efforts to provide workforce training to residents of PHYSICAL DOMAIN disaster impacted neighborhoods underway • Union Station rehabilitation underway • Springfield’s first bike lane built on Plumtree Road ORGANIZATIONAL DOMAIN • Ordinance for expedited sale of vacant lots to • DevelopSpringfield strengthens role as City’s abutters adopted private nonprofit development partner through • New Community Garden Ordinance spurs more acquisition of several key redevelopment sites and neighborhood gardens initiation of prominent redevelopment projects • New homes built on vacant lots • Various groups working to improve the image and perception of Springfield • More than 5,000 trees planted in tornado impacted areas 1 DISTRICT 1 CULTURAL DOMAIN • Caring Health Center and Square One rebuild in the South End along with several area businesses • Springfield Central Cultural District approved • New South End Community Center design • Walking tours, special exhibits, programs, and in process other “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” events offered • Phase I and II of Outing Park Historic District SOCIAL DOMAIN rehabilitation completed — Phase III underway • Emerson Wight Park renovations completed • Enhanced downtown police deployments implemented DISTRICT 2 • $1 million grant received to launch new 2 public-safety initiative in the South End • New Brookings School under construction • Live Well Springfield public-health • Five new single-family homes under construction initiative launched on Central Street, additional homes planned • Plans for development of a full-line grocery store in • Commonwealth Academy opens at former Mason Square in process MacDuffie School, repairs to the historic campus are underway 3 DISTRICT 3 • Dryden School renovation completed • Insurance and federal aid awards finalized for Cathedral High School • Residents working to bring a new library/community center to the neighborhood 4 REBUILD SPRINGFIELD Progress Report 2014 Visible Change hysical reconstruction was clearly a main focus of the Rebuild Springfield Plan. The effect of seeing devastated neighborhoods and bare sky- Plines where large trees once stood had both practical and emotional impact on our city. One of the most exciting and tangible signs of progress has been the rebuilding of Central Street. After more than two years of cleanup, planning, securing federal funding, and selecting developers, construction on Central Street is in full swing. The new homes will provide increased homeownership opportunities and a much-needed lift to the community as residents see new construction as the culmination of years of hard work. The physical improvement of On Central Street, Viva Development works to complete four beautiful new homes to fill gaps left by the tornado. neighborhoods has gone beyond The City has committed federal funds to restore what Mayor Sarno called “the gateway to downtown and East repairing tornado damage. Rebuilding Forest Park.” North End Housing Initiative is also building new homes in the area and the City will provide financial Together recently announced an assistance to support development of 14 more homes in the neighborhood over the next three years. exciting “Green-N-Fit 10-in-10” initiative to revitalize the Old Hill neighborhood by rehabilitating homes on ten contiguous blocks from Tyler Street to Hickory Street over ten years. HAPHousing, Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Home City Housing, and other nonprofit housing providers, along with private developers such as First Resource Companies, have contributed substantially to physical transformation in many neighborhoods throughout the “City of Homes.” In addition to housing improve- ments, schools are being reconstructed, parks restored, and trees replanted. Major street, transportation, and other infrastructure improvements are planned or underway throughout the When completed in 2016, Union Station will include a restored terminal building and central concourse city, including in the tornado-impacted servicing Amtrak intercity rail and planned New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail, local and intercity districts. buses and taxi, bicycle and pedestrian travel in one state-of-the-art inter-modal transportation