So what is happening in Downtown Springfield, Oregon?

I'm so glad you asked!

Downtown Springfield was recently designated as a "Transforming Downtown" under Oregon Main Street's downtown revitalization program, which follows the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Model. Basically, that means

Now, Downtown Springfield is similar to your average downtown district, and yes, even the one in the famous Simpsons show. Once a thriving town profiting off of the nearby lumber industry. When that went dry decades ago, the city turned to other sources of revenue, namely growth and development. As the city grew, strip malls, office campuses, and the typical shopping mall came in leaving the original core of the city in the dust

An unfortunate piece of Springfield's history goes back to the prohibition era as well. Back when the country was dry and slowly began to become wet again, the city of Springfield began alcohol consumption again several years before the city of Eugene (Springfield's metro area neighbor and more well known municipality). Thus, Springfield's reputation in the region as "the town where you went to get drunk" began. So, currently, Springfield, more specifically, Downtown Springfield, has a very negative perception among the majority of the local population as a sketchy part of town where druggies, prostitutes, and questionable people hang out. The streets are dark at night, and people just are worried to be on the streets leading to businesses closing shop at 4pm, because, apparently, "people get mugged."

Over the past year or so, a number of downtown merchants and influential people have been meeting monthly to identify problems in downtown and determine reasonable solutions to address these issues. I was brought on board with the Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) as an AmeriCorps*VISTA to be the Main Street Coordinator to spearhead the project and establish the groundwork for the program to be successful in the future.

Committees have been formed under the Four Points of Main Street: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring. These committees are developing work plans and courses of action for the coming year to tackle some small but visible victories for Downtown Springfield to keep the momentum going and action happening.

Already, a major culture shift is taking place in Downtown Springfield! We have partnered with the Eugene Storefront Art Project (ESAP) to place numerous art installations in vacant storefront throughout the district. People are now stopping to see the art, and realize that these so called "scary" streets really aren't that bad. New stores are filling these vacancies, and a very successful Art Walk has been established on the second Friday of each month!

People are taking note, and Downtown Springfield is already turning around! Several strip clubs and bars that have been the staple of the downtown's negative perception, have recently been denied their liquor license renewals and are being shut down the first week of the new year. This is great news for the community and will only lead to a more inclusive and inviting community.

The city has some elaborate downtown renewal plans, which you can view here. The Main Street program looks at downtown revitalization from a more grassroots, business perspective. Still, whatever projects we decide to pursue will be directly related to the overall vision of the urban renewal plans.

I am really enjoying working this job, even though it might be a temporary thing. I am getting some excellent experience and developing some extraordinary networking and public interaction skills. Meeting and working collaboratively with city officials, board directors, and local movers and shakers is pretty exciting. Coordinating committees is quite the challenge I am figuring out.

For a good summary news article, read this if you haven't already. I love positive, free PR for my downtown. haha