Plan unveiled for College Street corridor in Springfield, Mo.

The City of Springfield, Mo., has unveiled its revitalization plan for the College Street corridor west of downtown, which includes an alignment of historic Route 66, reported KY3-TV in Springfield.

The plan covers College Street from Grant Avenue to the Kansas Expressway (map here).

Folks have agreed for years that the area needs a little tender loving care because it’s so close to downtown, it will overlook the West Meadows area that also has a revitalization plan, and of course, because it’s old Route 66. […]

The section of College Street already has some character, being part of the historic Route 66, and the plan calls for catering to those who travel the mother road.  “We’d like to develop a Route 66 roadside park that would welcome tourists as well as residents and community,” says Morgan.

A cleanup along Jordan Creek could be a kickstart to the College Street plan.  The site was just one of eight old gas stations that used to be on the section of Route 66.  Crews actually removed a 10,000 gallon underground gas tank from the site.  “It’s looking beautiful. I cannot believe it,” says Tom Ehlers, who used to have his business on the property.  He still has another piece of property in the corridor and plans to hang onto it.  “Whenever I retire, my wife and I might settle down and build a house here, overlooking the West Meadows,” says Ehlers.

Another idea is the city’s first designated live-work area, where residents would run a business from their home, such as an art studio or antique shop.  “They desire to see the area have an element of flexibility in redevelopemnt.  We don’t want a lot of rigidity,” says Morgan.

The plan will be available for viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. today at the Mother’s Brewing Co. tasting room. More comments will be taken on the plan, then it will go to the City Council for possible adoption.

A 29-page copy of the plan can be found here. Key points from the mission statement:

College Street will have a special identity all its own with an eclectic mix of businesses, artist studios, architecture, and residents. It will include quirky, traditional, and modern; old timers and young transplants: A true melting pot of Springfield.

Housing and shopping choice will be available in a mixed use, appropriate scale, environment, inviting one to walk down the street talking with neighbors and shop keepers. People will be living and working in the same building or vicinity. The walkways will be supported by landscaping, pedestrian lighting, and banners, and facilitate a festive atmosphere.

Route 66 will be honored through art, graphics, signage, festivals, and a special roadside and car park interpreting Route 66 and neighborhood history. Each end of the corridor will have significant business enterprises welcoming customers to the area.

The plan appears more thoughtful and cognizant of the area’s Route 66 history than other revitalization plans I’ve seen. It largely avoids cookie-cutter homogeneity, and mixed-use neighborhoods are what modern city planners are advocating.

Whether this plan will actually happen is the big question. But it appears to be a good start.

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