Development Services

Office of Planning & Economic Development

Committed to Building a Strong Springfield

DEPARTMENT HEADLINES

Springfield featured in USA Today as Housing Market on the "Upswing"

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

Springfield showcased in Best Cities list as "Biggest Gainer"

The City of Springfield made the 2009 Milken Institute Best Performing Cities list, a list that measures job growth/retention and sustainability. The city was listed as the 19th biggest gainer in the entire country from 2008 to 2009. View the entire report here.

121 Pinevale Street Demolition Update

: 121 Pinevale Street Site

December 2009

Demolition and cleaning up at 121 Pinevale Street is getting closer to completion. The building is down and the brick walls and floor slabs are being cleaned. Metal pipe and truck tires are cleaned and recycled and most have been shipped out. Trucking out debris from the north end continues with washing down of all the trucks, and air monitoring stations continue to operate around the entire site.

Revitalization of 60 Congress Street Result of Economic Development Effort

R.J. Greeley Co., LLC spearheads re-use of vacant foreclosed property and secures Pioneer Valley Planning Commission new home.

A large empty building stood vacant for more than 3 years in downtown Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2008, local businessmen, Jerome Gagliarducci and Zane Mirkin purchased the property and invested just under $4 million in the renovation of the structures. Full scale gutting and restoration turned the building into Class A office space.

After securing the building through R.J. Greeley Co. (RJC), an area leader in the industrial and commercial real estate market, local firms and trades were contracted for the renovations Caolo and Beiniek Architects, Saloomey Construction and Eastfield Glass.

To help enhance the project for prospective tenants by offering tax incentives for building occupancy, RJG worked with Springfield city officials to obtain a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan as well as state tax credits. Mayor Dominic J. Sarno, Mr. Christopher Moskal of the Office of Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Brian Connors, Deputy Director of Economic Development and Mr. Mike Vedovelli, Regional Director of the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) were key players in this project.

Patrick-Murray Administration Announces Start of Demolition for Brownfields Site

SPRINGFIELD – Thursday, August 27, 2009
As part of the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Brownfields Support Team Initiative, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced the commencement of demolition of structures at 121 Pinevale Street – part of the proposed Indian Orchard Business Park Project in Springfield. The Brownfields Support Team Initiative, a multi-agency pilot program, is leading the demolition of this property and the project will be overseen by MassDevelopment.

“The commencement of demolition at 121 Pinevale Street represents a significant milestone for the Indian Orchard Business Park Project,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “It’s a great example of how the new Brownfields Support Team Initiative has successfully collaborated as a team of state and federal agencies to get the job done for a very complex brownfield site.”

The Indian Orchard Brownfield Support Team is working with Springfield to help transform this and surrounding municipally-owned properties into a state-of-the-art light industrial complex that will help generate local jobs and tax revenue. Up to $900,000 in funding from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Revolving Loan Fund, through the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, will be used to perform demolition and remediation at this site.
To view the full press release please click here

For more information on the 121 Pinevale Street Demolition Project please click here

York Street Site and Visitors Information Center properties available for development

The Springfield Redevelopment Authority in coordination with the City of Springfield has made available a 4 acre development site - formerly the home of the York Street Jail - and a 4,100 square foot building on the Springfield Riverfront. The building is being used through July, 2009 for the Visitors Information Center. The current VIC will be relocated within the Hall of Fame, leaving the 4,100 square foot building available later this summer. The 4 acre site is cleared and both sites sit just steps from the Basketball Hall of Fame, adjacent to I-91 - with visibility to over 100,000 cars per day.

For more information on either, visit: www.springfieldplanning.org/riverfront

Springfield earns Platinum Rating from Mass Biotech Council

Biotechnology companies looking to set up laboratories and factories will find everything they need right here in Springfield, according to a set of community ratings released Thursday by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

The Office of Planning & Economic Development participated in the survey, which resulted in the Council showcasing Springfield as earning the highest rating, or "Platinum" status in the Massachusetts BioReady Community Ratings. Read Article in The Republican
Learn more about the Mass BioReady Community Ratings

: Hot Table co-founder John DeVoie with Mayor Sarno announcing new downtown location.

Hot Table opens new Downtown Springfield location

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined Hot Table founders John DeVoie, Chris DeVoie, and Don Watroba, as they opened the 2nd Hot Table location in Downtown Springfield at a prime storefront in Tower Square on the corner of Main Street and Boland Way. Hot Table serves up specialty Panini sandwiches and wraps, coffee and desserts and was founded in 2007 with its first store in the Breckwood Shops at Western New England College. The new downtown location is open Monday-Saturday. Learn more about Hot Table here.

Zoning Ordinance Modernization Project

The City of Springfield is in the process of completing the first rewriting of the zoning code since 1971. A Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has helped guide the process and the development of the documents.

The proposed revisions were presented to the Planning Board and City Council in June, however, no action was taken by the Council.

The city staff and CAC are currently working on further revisions and hope to present the document back to the Planning Board and City Council in November 2009.

Click here to review full ordinance, proposed zoning map, revision packets and supporting materials.

State Street Corridor Report Online

The 3.2 mile State Street Corridor is currently in the midst of a $17 million restoration, including full depth reconstruction of the roadway, new sidewalks, intersection improvements, new median strips, and many new pedestrian and vehicle amenities. The reconstruction is a key factor in the State Street Redevelopment Program - a 68 page report outlining the development opportunities on this central corridor. Click here to view the report, and click here for the State Street project update page.

Grow Springfield Fund available now

The City of Springfield introduced a new loan program targeted to existing small businesses seeking capital to expand. The program is administered with the City's community and economic development partners, the National Development Council. Click here for more information.

Springfield Economic Growth Initiative needs your input

MassINC and the University of Massachusetts Urban Initiative is leading a two-phase process to develop a long-term economic growth strategy for the City of Springfield. This document will outline a common vision that can be achieved with an informed strategy, and a plan to execute.

MassInc & UMASS have developed a website for the initiative: http://www.massinc.org/index.php?id=710

The success of this initiative is heavily dependent on public participation. Input sessions have already been held and others will be planned in the near future to gather input from Springfield residents, businesses, and community organizations. The research team also encourages interested parties to email springfield@massinc.org with feedback.

Infill Housing Design Guidelines

Public presentation made by Dietz & Company Architects - June 26, 2008

Additional news:
Project Updates
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Office of Planning & Economic Development Misson Statement

The Office of Planning and Economic Development's mission is to provide community planning services and to manage programs that fulfill on the immediate physical, economic and environmental needs of the city, and to assist in the development of the City's long-term vision for physical, environmental, economic and community development.

John Judge, Chief Development Officer

Brian M. Connors, Deputy Director of Economic Development

Phillip Dromey, Deputy Director of Planning

Western Massachusetts “It’s Your Move”

: Its Your Move (EDC Video)

The Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts has produced a promotional video entitled “It’s Your Move” featuring the City of Springfield. The video features several thoughts from young professionals in the Springfield area, as well as a view of the businesses, monuments and events that help to make our City great. Click the picture of Springfield to view the video and let our office know your thoughts.

Page last updated: Wednesday, January 20, 2010 02:33 pm