City officials say they are still working out the details of what those improvements will look like as sections of the plaza will be torn up as part of a project to repair the parking garage that sits beneath it.
“The plaza serves as the primarily public gathering space in our downtown. As you see in many downtowns there is that focus on a community gathering spot," said Springfield City Manager Bryan Heck.
"The plaza was intended for that when this was constructed back in the (1970s). It has grown tired. It needs to be re-imagined. It needs to be reinvented and to continue to be that public space for our community, for everyone,” he added.
The city has not come up with a definite price tag on those improvements, but Heck said they are looking to spend up to a million dollars on the garage repairs and some plaza improvements next year.
He noted that the garage has been in need for repairs for sometime and was built in 1979.
In terms of improvements to the plaza as part of that project, it could include looking at different materials that might replace the preexisting concrete as well as what can be done to the plaza’s green space.
Heck said that the concrete has not held up well and has resulted in a lot of maintenance for the city.
Credit: Contributed
Credit: Contributed
Other ideas discussed for the plaza, includes adding more benches and lighting to the area as well as possibly relocating the large black sculpture that sits in front of city hall to the south east quadrant of the plaza to make it more accessible to the public, Heck said.
He said that this all would be part of a public investment phase designed to create a more welcoming space in the downtown and is also part of larger revitalization effort in the area.
The city is working with several design companies, Desman Design Management in Chicago and MODA4 in Dayton. The first is helping with the garage part while the second is working on plans regarding what the plaza and its surrounding areas could look like, including possible private investment.
However, Heck said the main focus is on public improvements and there has not been a commitment at this time to the private investment aspects of the larger plan to improve the area.
The latter, which are just ideas at this point, include improvements to the lower exterior of the EF Hutton building and the creation of a four-story building that would offer residential living spaces as well as retail.
Possible improvements to the plaza will be discussed further during a City Commission work session scheduled for Tuesday evening.
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