Convention center measure may come back before voters in April

Springfield city leaders are considering an April ballot measure to fund a new downtown convention and events center.

The measure would likely be similar to the 3% lodging tax that failed in November, though a few key differences are anticipated, according to City Manager David Cameron. Among these are a hard cap of construction costs at $175 million – he said the total project cost may be closer to $205 million with other expenses included – and a sunset for the tax.

Cameron made his remarks during a listening session last night at the Greene County Election Center.

In an interview after the session, Cameron said he intends to compile a summary from the survey and listening sessions to present to council, and he said he presumes a new ballot measure will result in time for the April ballot. During his remarks at the session, he noted the deadline to file for the election is Jan. 27.

Cameron told the audience that the vacant land on the east side of the city-owned Springfield Expo Center is part of the site envisioned for a potential downtown convention and events center. The facility would also incorporate land on either side of the lot, namely the existing, city-owned Expo Center, which would be renovated and expanded, and the Jordan Valley Car Park, which is owned by Georgia-based Atrium Hospitality. The site in total is about 7 acres, and Cameron said it could be built not only outward, but upward, to accommodate the center.

Cameron additionally indicated some property across St. Louis Street from the site may also be acquired to include in the plans. Springfield Business Journal is seeking comment from Atrium.

Cameron presented a slide showing a site plan – not to be confused with a rendering, as the illustration shows a proposal for the use of the property and not the conceptual design of a convention center itself. Cameron said it did not make sense to him to pay roughly $250,000 for design documents, though when pressed he acknowledged the importance of showing voters what a convention center might look like.

Cameron held the listening session to receive feedback about the failure of a proposed 3% lodging tax on the November election ballot as city leaders consider proposing a similar ballot item in the spring.

A city convention and events center feedback survey completed by upwards of 1,200 respondents showed that lack of information – including a failure of city officials to reveal the site of the proposed center – was a factor for many who said they voted against the tax.

“I can say – that’s the spot,” Cameron said in an interview after the presentation.

During his remarks, he acknowledged that the city did not do a good job of telling the story of the convention center.

The report by consultant Hunden Strategic Partners Inc. that recommended a downtown convention center does not describe the site, but there is a photo of the grass lot beside the Expo Center marked “potential development area.”

“We didn’t tell a story – pretty simple,” Cameron said. “But at the same time, looking at it I’m not surprised by the feedback because when I did my onboarding going around the community while this project was gaining momentum, I was out in the community listening, so it’s not a shock to hear.”

Cameron had a slide with the phrase, “You’re not listening.” This, he said, was the key takeaway he heard from voters and others in the city.

He said listening is important as the city moves forward with the convention center and other initiatives.

“I learned another thing – that for Springfield to move forward, government in my capacity’s got to get more out into these environments and listen more to make sure that we’re gaining momentum,” he said. “People want information that we’re actually making progress in the issues that matter to them every day – it’s not just a convention and events center.”

Among the issues city residents feel are going unheard, he said, are stormwater management, noise, crime, animal control and homelessness.

“I can understand, because I’m the same person,” he said. “I don’t blame someone for complaining about it, because I complain about it already.”