City Beat: Restaurant owners plead with council over ban

Smoke isn't the only thing that's disappeared from Springfield restaurants so has business, restaurant owners told City Council at its July 28 meeting.

In the three weeks the ordinance has been enforced, restaurateurs say business is down between 20 percent and 40 percent.

Nine people in the restaurant industry, including owners, servers and patrons, addressed council, asking city leaders to reconsider its restaurant smoking ban that started July 7.

"We're in trouble," said Patricia Stevenson, owner of George's Steak House on South Glenstone Avenue.

She and her husband George have operated the 24-hour diner for nearly 30 years. Tables where customers would congregate and converse over coffee and cigarettes are now often empty, she said.

"Nobody wants to see your business fail, because it's almost like your baby. At least consider some compromise," she told council.

The majority asked for an all or nothing ban that would include bars and bingo halls. Others are still lobbying for individual choices.

"We would like City Council to revisit the ordinance and let each individual business owner choose," said Jim Dillard, co-owner of Cedar's, who added that he is considering lay-offs.

While council was open to suggestions, Mayor Tom Carlson said he wasn't sure if any revisions would be made. "If we choose to, we should do it sooner rather than later," he said.

Unless changes are made, Rick Vickerman will continue to drive outside Springfield to eat out. Vickerman said he and his wife spent $100 a week eating at Springfield smoking establishments. "We don't do that anymore. We smoke."

Vickerman was among the speakers who felt the decision should have come to a public vote.

Council also heard from the other side of the fence; three people commended council members for taking the bold step.

"Change brings dislocations," said Lloyd Young, putting a historical spin on the issue. He remembers when smoking was allowed in movie theaters and hospitals. Young said that just as those public places are now accepted as smoke-free, restaurants will be too.

While telling council he enjoys the smoke-free environments, Charlie O'Reilly asked restaurant owners to hang in there.

"Driving out of Springfield to have a meal? How long is that going to last?" he asked. O'Reilly predicted customers would return within six months.

Councilwoman Mary Collette recommended tracking business at the restaurants represented George's, Cedars, The Maples, Last Great American Diner before making changes.

Neighborhood revitalization

City staff presented council a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy for central Springfield that aims to increase housing opportunities, improve neighborhood conditions, facilitate development, increase jobs and investment and grow open space. The targeted areas are two of the city's lowest income census tracts: downtown and the West Central Neighborhood Alliance.

City planner Brendan Griesemer presented the six-year strategy that uses U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant monies. While no new money would be available, Griesemer said the city would have more flexibility in its existing CDBG monies, which total around $2 million annually. He said the money could be used for "out of the box" projects, such as the former MFA Mill on Boonville.

HUD requires revitalization strategy areas to be those in severe economic distress. City planners chose the two tracts based on 2000 U.S. Census data:

7.8 percent population decrease;

$14,000 median income;

35 percent in poverty;

9.7 percent unemployed; and

18 percent homeownership.

"The purpose of this strategy is to reverse these negative impacts," Griesemer said.

The strategy's progress would be analyzed annually, based on the benchmarks set forth, Griesemer said. Among the goals are adding 50 loft apartments and 24 new housing units; returning Campbell and Jefferson avenues to two-way streets; and creating 100 jobs, investing $1 million in small business loans and leveraging $2 million in private investment and owner equity through the city's Small Business Development Loan Program. Homeownership education also would be offered to residents.

Council votes on the strategy Aug. 11.

City land for sale

The city of Springfield is selling half an acre on the north side of the 200 block of East Grand Street. The surplus property, across the street from Maple Park Cemetery, used to house a City Utilities water tower; it is no longer needed to provide water service, City Manager Tom Finnie said.

The property will be put out to bid or sold at public auction. Its estimated value is $125,000. There is no access to Grand Street.

Battlefield Park

Council approved the planned development of Battlefield Park, a 10-acre office and apartment complex in the 600 and 700 blocks of West Battlefield Road. Sam Coryell is the developer. Approximately 144 apartment units are planned.