Check it out! DevelopSpringfield e-newsletter, October 2013

October 2013

Restoration Work Underway

at 83 Maple Street

Workers are now well underway with phase one of our building stabilization efforts which includes work on the porches, columns, windows and roof. It's a thoughtful process as we ensure safety and security of the building and historically accurate restoration of this once beautiful building located at the juncture of the neighborhoods of Metro Center, Maple High Six Corners and the South End.

We look forward to sharing the progress with you.

This historic home was built for Solymon Merrick, the inventor

of the monkey wrench. Later, it was residence to Ansel

Phelps who became the 4th Mayor of Springfield. We purchased this beautiful, but weary historic building earlier

this year with plans to restore and rehabilitate this 1841 era home for an appropriate reuse in this neighborhood.

Partnership Investment Program

We recently launched our Partnership Investment Program providing an opportunity for businesses, nonprofits and individuals to invest in the work of DevelopSpringfield and engage with us to further our mission.

We are pleased and grateful to welcome the following Partners who have joined us in this effort. Our thanks to each of them for their extraordinary support and for their early commitment to the Partner Program.

Leadership Partners

Business, Nonprofit and Individual Partners

American International College; Bacon/Wilson; Eugene B. Berman, J.D.; Rebecca Caplice; Colebrook Realty Services Inc.; Columbia Gas of Massachusetts; Brian Connors; Dianne and Paul Doherty; Doucet and Associates, Inc./Thomas J. Hogan, P.E.; Armando Feliciano; Hampden Bank; HAPHousing; Hayes Development Services; Robert "Cee" Jackson; Liberty Mutual Group; Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; North End Housing Initiative; NUVO Bank & Trust Co.; PeoplesBank; Melinda Phelps; Pioneer Valley Transit Authority; Springfield College; Studio One, Inc./Greg Zorzi, President; J. Jeffrey Sullivan; TD Bank; United Bank; Michael Vedovelli.

We invite you to invest in the work of DevelopSpringfield by joining our new annual Partnership Investment Program. By joining us as a Partner, you will help to provide a foundation of financial support to strengthen our work while having the opportunity to participate in strategic planning and advisory groups that help shape our direction and focus in areas such as real estate strategy; urban development and design; and the creative economy.

Plus, you can double your investment with a match! Our board members have pledged to match new Partner contributions (up to a total of $15,000) in this first year of the Partnership Investment Program. The DevelopSpringfield Board of Directors' Matching Challenge Fund will provide a 1:1 match, doubling your contribution in this first year to ensure a successful launch of the program.

Click here for more details!

Check out our website redesign

Our website recently went through a major "renovation" to offer easier navigation, enhanced graphics and layout, plus we went "mobile." Please take a look! We welcome your feedback as we fine tune along the way.

We're on facebook & Twitter

"Like" us on facebook and "Follow" us on Twitter. We are working hard to share interesting posts about our work and also promote other happenings in Springfield.

Keep in touch, stay tuned in and join us in trying to stay on the "cutting edge" of communication! Please also share any of our posts of interest with your friends and family. We hope to grow our list of friends and followers so that our community knows what DevelopSpringfield is all about! Feel free to forward this e-newsletter to others who might be interested in our work.

Save the Date!

The 3rd Annual Celebrate Springfield Dinner and

Gala will be held on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at

the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Stay tuned for details in the coming weeks!

Rebuild Project Highlights

An enormous amount of work has been done by the Mayor, the City's Development team and countless city departments along with individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to advance the rebuilding and revitalization of Springfield since the June 2011 tornado. We are pleased to be a part of the ongoing process and to highlight some of the extraordinary work being done.

The Rebuild Springfield planning process provided a framework for community engagement and collaboration with recommendations for advancing common goals and priorities for revitalization in Springfield. The following is an example of one of the projects that align with recommendations out of the Rebuild Plan.

Square One, 1095 Main Street

Square One has a new home

After being displaced by the June 1, 2011 tornado, Square One has finally moved into their new home at 1095 Main Street with beautiful new space for their "Family Square" program. The success of their move was the result of strong support of the community. Local businesses and foundations joined together to provide the financial resources needed to make their new home a reality. An Open House and celebration was held in September for the community to tour the space, learn about the services and enjoy entertainment from the very talented preschoolers.

DevelopSpringfield was pleased to support this project and awarded a recent $20,000 grant through our Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP) to assist with façade renovations to their new space on Main Street.

Click here here to learn more about this program and how we might assist your business with enhancements such as signage, lighting, windows and doors, repair/restoration of finishes or architectural detailing, masonry repair, removal (or conversion) of solid roll-down grates, or landscaping.

Links to the Rebuild Plan can be found at www.developspringfield.com. Just click on the Rebuild Springfield logo on our homepage. If you have news or updates to share, please let us know!

Please forward this newsletter to others in the Springfield community

to help spread the news!

Our mission is to help create conditions that encourage private development, with a bricks-and-mortar focus and always with an eye toward understanding and meeting Springfield's unique and diverse redevelopment needs.

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