The second proposal would establish a community entertainment district by adding more liquor permits downtown typically sought by restaurants.
Public hearings on both proposals was held during a recent city commission meeting where residents could learn more about each of these possibilities.
The DORA and community entertainment district proposals are scheduled for first readings at the city commission meeting on Feb. 12.
CITY GOVERNMENT: Heck assumes city manager role in Springfield
During the recent hearing, then-Deputy City Manager Bryan Heck said there would be signs posted to show the edge of the DORA boundaries.
Commissioner Kevin O’Neill raised a point about whether extra security would be needed to make sure things don’t get out of control.
Heck said public safety is part of the DORA program, but added it would be a “great problem to have.”
“If that does create the momentum and the activity that it’s intended to create, we’ll have to look at that — if we change our strategy as it relates to public safety,” Heck said.
The boundaries of the DORA extend up just past Station 1 bar on North Fountain Avenue and going south beyond the Kuss Auditorum to Monroe Street.
The DORA stops westward at Wittenberg Avenue and east at Spring Street.
Heck said the DORA can specifically benefit existing permit holders if they have special events, but the DORA would be in effect year-round from 11 a.m. to midnight. Permit holders do control access to the designated DORA cups and they can choose whether or not to participate.
LOCAL: Ex-Clark County teacher’s request for early release from prison denied
During the hearing regarding the entertainment district, Heck stressed the proposal gives new restaurants opportunities to find their homes downtown.
“It can be a challenge for a restaurant owner to obtain a D5 permit, and it can make it very expensive for them to obtain a permit, so the entertainment district gives an additional allotment of the D5 permits for that specified area,” he said.
A D5 restaurant/night club permit allows for liquor, wine, beer and mixed beverage consumption on a restaurant premises until 2:30 a.m. The fee for that permit is around $2,300.
Prior to the hearing, Salato Deli owner Dan Freeman said he thinks one of the main problems downtown is walkability. He and his wife, Lisa Freeman own two businesses on North Fountain Avenue.
He said no one is walking around, therefore they aren’t seeing what the downtown has to offer to them. He said establishing a DORA might fix that.
“It would be nice to be able to take your open container from one place to do some shopping at a retail spot and then back somewhere else to have dinner,” Freeman said. “Hopefully there’s a lot of walking between there and that’ll open up opportunities for retail spots to create new concepts.”
If it passes, the DORA could be in effect as early as April.
About the Author