Gas line break sends Fire Department downtown

The Springfield Fire Department and City Utilities officials were called to the scene at about 9 a.m. after construction workers hit a gas line while demolishing the building’s ground floor.

Building owner Tom Dornan said there were no injuries or unforseen damages, and the development is still on schedule.

“Things like this happen,” he said. “It’s a little strange that the gas was still on for a building that’s been inactive for 20 years, but City Utilities is making sure it’s turned off.”

Firefighters used fans to air out the building before allowing workers to continue with the project.

Dornan is opening the ground floor of the building to prepare it for three undetermined retailers.

“We’ll build to suit – whatever it looks like the market will require,” he said.

The upper three floors will house three one-bedroom lofts and six two-bedroom lofts.

“It’s a real neat design,” Dornan said. “Some two-bedroom lofts will be ‘loftices’ and will have a private entrance from the hallway into a bedroom. A consultant can have an office, and he won’t have to come through his living room to get to it.”

Dornan said the project should be completed within a year at an estimated cost of $1.7 million. Financing is provided by Village Bank, a city loan and tax credits.