AIA: Annual salute a good reason for looking within

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Lifelong residents of Springfield have seen profound growth and evolution in this community. Although the city has doubled in size in the last four decades, it has maintained a comfortable sense of community to most of its inhabitants.|ret||ret||tab|

To maintain Springfield as the great city it has become we must carefully plan and consider the type of growth appropriate for our community's personality. This planning will most certainly occur with the expertise and guidance of the AIA architects of this city. The architects look forward to this challenge. Additionally though, this consideration will involve looking within ...|ret||ret||tab|

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Our city limits|ret||ret||tab|

We, as citizens, need to ask ourselves how far we want our city limits to expand before we give serious consideration to property redevelopment within our current limits. Redevelopment is not, and should not, be limited to center city. |ret||ret||tab|

For example, let's take another look at Glenstone, between Sunshine and Chestnut Expressway. Perhaps we should ask ourselves why the area around our state's No. 1 tourist attraction (Bass Pro Shops) remains underdeveloped. |ret||ret||tab|

Further, we should ask why a developer recently commented that one should be cautious of investing in properties north of Battlefield. That's right, Battlefield! Are we destined for a wasteland between what promises to be a glorious redevelopment of center city and outlying suburbs? We should hope not.|ret||ret||tab|

The answer to how we make our community sustainable is to limit geographic expansion, encourage density, permanent structures and integrated communities. Without this as an overriding goal, we risk an ever-increasing dependence on our minivans and SUVs, driving endlessly between destinations stretching farther and farther apart. If this is not the community we want to create, we must also spend time looking within ...|ret||ret||tab|

Our city/county government|ret||ret||tab|

It is those leading our community, our elected officials, who can turn our goal of maintaining our sense of community into policy. One idea, which may benefit the future of our community, is to combine the individual planning, zoning and building regulation departments of the city and county into a unified countywide office. This would allow better urban/rural planning and eliminate conflicting building and development requirements.|ret||ret||tab|

Secondly, freezing property tax reassessments on redeveloped properties for a period of years could encourage redevelopment within the city limits. Or, what if development of existing empty parcels within the city limits was encouraged by establishing a declining scale of assessment "credit" based on the distance from center city. These ideas may not be perfected but illustrate the creative thought that must be given to maintain the greatness of our city. |ret||ret||tab|

Otherwise, the examples set by other communities indicate we will experience an ever-expanding perimeter around a decaying mid-zone, around a revitalized (but limited) core. Speaking of creative thinking we must, as a citizenry be willing to look within ...|ret||ret||tab|

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Our design and construction community|ret||ret||tab|

The architects and contractors of our city represent the creative ability and know-how to construct an environment we can all enjoy and appreciate. Architects are the visionaries of our built environment. They can transform ideas into brick and mortar. Their unique combination of artistic vision and technical ability is an invaluable element in the creation of a livable community.|ret||ret||tab|

Contractors, too, are highly skilled professionals. Daily they manage multiple tasks and various trades. Their ability to transform the architect's vision into a constructed solution makes them an invaluable team member in the community development process. Establishing the goals for these design and construction professionals can only occur by looking within ...|ret||ret||tab|

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Ourselves|ret||ret||tab|

It is ultimately up to us, the citizens of Springfield, to decide what kind of community we want to live in. We vote with our dollars where we spend our money. We also effect change through individual conversations with our neighbors and peers. These, in turn, become collective thoughts of our community that are translated into public policy. |ret||ret||tab|

If you want a great community, decide what will make it great in your mind and tell somebody. This is how it all starts by looking within.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Daniel E. Scott, AIA, MBA, is president of the American Institute of Architects-Springfield and an architect with Design Agency.)[[In-content Ad]]