City seeks input on future of C-Street

Olivia Hough: C-Street merchants have had their say.

Officials from Springfield’s Planning and Development Department are asking for the community’s help to craft long-term plans for Commercial Street.  

The city has created a survey to accept feedback until Dec. 4. Community members can also call or email the city to schedule a time to discuss their ideas in person, according to a news release. 

“Commercial Street’s last plan was completed in 2006, and the district has seen significant changes since then,” said Senior Planner Olivia Hough, in the release. “While the survey has been shared with the merchants, residents and other stakeholders on C-Street, we need input from the entire community.  

The city of Springfield created the Forward SGF comprehensive planning process, which sits as a roadmap for the city’s growth within the next 20 years, including the future of Commercial Street. Over the past several months, eight focus groups have been working with city officials to organize the goals for the plan. 

The focus groups started their work by addressing key areas that the community identified as important in workshops the last two years. Those include the arts, infrastructure, economic development, health and well-being, housing and neighborhoods, parks, greenways and transportation. Then, the focus group put together strategies to achieve these fundamental areas. 

“We are now at a critical point in the planning process where we need the community to weigh in and tell us if they agree and share their priorities for the future of the city, as we take the next steps to draft the next comprehensive plan,” said Principal Planner Randall Whitman in the release.