Office of Planning & Economic Development

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined Congressman Richard E. Neal, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, American International College (AIC) and DevelopSpringfield on November 28, 2011 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the first phase of the Eastern Gateway project, a key recommendation of the State Street Corridor Redevelopment Program.

 “This is the kind of cooperation that benefits not only the parties involved but also the city as a whole” said Mayor Sarno. “State Street is a major thoroughfare, traveled by residents and visitors in large numbers every day."   

The project seeks to create a mixed-use development that will include appropriate institutional, retail and commercial uses; offer an attractive pedestrian environment at the entrance of AIC’s athletic field complex; and serve both the college and the neighborhood. The Eastern Gatway project as outlined by AIC and DevelopSpringfield was approved by the State Street Alliance in its meeting of June, 2009.

 “DevelopSpringfield is pleased to partner with AIC to advance this important component of the State Street Corridor Redevelopment Program,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, chairman of DevelopSpringfield.  “It will demonstrate that community-driven planning can yield positive results.”

 The Eastern Gateway represents a joint venture of AIC and DevelopSpringfield - a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) economic development corporation. The State Street Redevelopment Program resulted from a study commissioned in 2008 by the State Street Alliance, an affiliation of more than 60 businesses, educational institutions, neighborhood councils, faith-based organizations and non-profits.

 Dr. Vincent M. Maniaci, president of AIC, said, "This project will provide immediate benefits by replacing unproductive properties and clearing the way for productive revitalization of the area. It will serve as a powerful catalyst for future investment and development that will further economic growth.”

 Eastern Gateway is a multi-phase effort; Phase 1 includes acquisition, remediation and greening of the area, and Phase 2 includes refinement of a site development plan, construction and work to transform a marginal pedestrian environment into a vibrant contemporary urban district.

 The project builds upon the recently completed $17 million State Street Roadway Improvement project and the construction of the new federal courthouse – projects funded with the support of Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-Springfield).

 “State Street is a national treasure,” Congressman Neal said. “It has connections to American luminaries from George Washington to James Naismith.   I am thrilled to see the revitalization of State Street and I look forward to the thoroughfare once again being a thriving center for commerce, housing, entertainment and education."  

Teatro V!da's Vision for a Creative Springfield

Submitted for the Rebuild Springfield Master Plan by members of the Teatro V!da Youth Ensemble. Click here to download PDF

To learn more about Teatro V!da, check out their website: www.teatrovida.com

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno was joined today by Cambridge College Director Teresa Forte to announce the relocation of their regional campus to Springfield’s Tower Square.  “The move will bring about 200 new students downtown,” said Mayor Sarno.

Cambridge College, founded in 1971 is an accredited private non-profit institution with over 5,000 enrolled full-time students.  The college’s main campus is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has 7 regional centers, including Springfield.  Cambridge College has worked for 39 years to develop an innovative educational model for working adults.

Also in attendance was Nick Fyntrilakis of MassMutual to celebrate Tower Square’s 40th Birthday.  Formerly known as Baystate West, the development has 1.6 million square feet of space and provides office space to more than 1100 employees.

The United States Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in September approved a loan application in the amount of $2,535,000 from the City of Springfield to be used as a loan for the renovation of the former Holiday Inn at 711 Dwight Street.

The owners of the property, Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, plan to begin renovation work later this fall and winter to transform the hotel into a La Quinta Inn & Suites. The project will include new windows, new exterior improvements, and full rehab of rooms and lobby space, retaining and creating new jobs.

Under a city CDBG funded program established to help save the most endangered historic properties, 52 Westminster Street in Springfield's McKnight neighborhood was recently saved from the wrecking ball. The program provided funding to Demetrios N. Panteleakis, who completed the full restoration of the home which had been vacant and fully gutted for years.

Mr. Panteleakis, a McKnight resident, will sell the home to an owner-occupant as per the guidelines of the program. The home for sale real estate listing can be found here.

A September, 2011 Washington Post story noted a Brookings report that examined how the recession has affected the country’s major metropolitan areas and which places are recovering faster than others. The report factored in job changes, the unemployment rate, economic output and house prices, and found the Springfield, MA metro to be among the top-20 in the country in recovering from the recession. Read more on the Washington Post.

Ecobuilding Bargains, 83 Warwick Street, the former "ReStore", is closing in on completion of its renovations in fall, 2011. Ecobuilding Bargains accepts donations of quality but unwanted home improvement materials and sells them to the public in a convenient retail setting in an effort to reduce landfill waste. The nonprofit was a recipient of Mayor Sarno's effort to grow green jobs in Springfield through a City of Springfield CDBG Green Jobs program that provided funding for aquisition of the Warwick Street property.

The demolition of 9 residential structures on Marble Street have been completed in the continuing South End revitalization project. The clearance of these properties has allowed for the expansion of Emerson Wight Park right to the sidewalk on Marble Street - allowing for a larger park, more public access, and greater visibility. The project also includes new park improvements which began construction in September.

The redevelopment of the Enterprise Building at 1592 Main Street, the former "Asylum" nightclub, has taken some major steps in recent weeks with the completion of exterior demolition, the fill of the back 2/3 of the lot, and the construction of new foundations and footings. The new wall will be erected in October, with final site work being completed in November. When complete, the rear space will become parking/event space with a public market operated by the Springfield Business Improvement Distric (BID). The remaining building will be redeveloped for office/commercial space through a partnership of the city, Springfield Parking Authority, and Springfield BID.

The City of Springfield was featured in USA Today on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 as a housing market on the "Upswing". The feature article can be found here: USA Today on Springfield