Our guest speakers presented a slide show of areas of Springfield that have experienced successful economic development, many receiving some financial funding from the city of Springfield.  Springfield has the second lowest unemployment rate in Illinois, 8.6%, second only to Bloomington.  The Park South redevelopment on the old Fiat Allis site was mentioned as a very successful and worthwhile use of TIF District funds, allowing a million sq ft of deteriorating area to be converted into a thriving economic development area, bringing jobs and, ultimately, tax revenues to the area.  When visiting Washington, DC last year, the Office of Planning and Economic Development requested funds for a new fire station west of Springfield and for Stanford Avenue development.  In the Old Southtown Development Project, the City has purchased the facades of businesses to jumpstart blight removal.  More information is available at their website at http://www.springfield.il.us/oped/

When asked what could be done about garish and obtrusive sign blight that can be one effect of successful economic development, the speakers said ordinances could only go so far because it's hard to legislate good design and the Springfield City landscape ordinance is "weak". 

One comment was a reminder that the problem with Springfield economic development was not lack of planning, pointing to a solid plan from the 1920s, but that planning is not taken to the policy level in City government.  We're doing a great job of planning, but the planning needs to be followed up with a commitment to move forward and stick with the plan.