Historic Walnut Street hums

A stroll through the historic Walnut Street district offers a glimpse into the past, but the neighborhood today is anything but past tense.

Recent months are marked by transition, as properties change hands and undergo renovation. The future holds still more change with continuing renovations to properties and infrastructure.

Jim Stout, president of the Urban Districts Alliance and treasurer of the Walnut Street Merchants Association, noted several changes of ownership and renovations on historic Walnut Street:

Quisenberry Gardens, serving homemade soups, sandwiches and desserts, opened in February at 1129 E. Walnut, formerly the site of The Walnut Street House of Tea.

Collections, a gift shop located at 1112 E. Walnut, changed hands in January. Stout said the shop under new ownership is "open and going strong."

The popular Ebbets Field Restaurant and Pub, 1027 E. Walnut, also had a change of ownership in December 2000 and according to Stout is "still just as great as ever."

Bailey and Beck has moved from 1122 E. Walnut to 1345 E. Montclair.

The building at 1000 E. Walnut, home to Joyce Foster Photography, is undergoing renovation.

Also under renovation are 943 and 945 E. Walnut, owned by attorney Paul Reichert.

Renovation on 1033 E. Walnut is complete and the building is now the home of the Child Advocacy Center, previously located at 1111 E. Walnut.

The Victim Center opened earlier this year at 1041 E. Walnut.

The building at 1147 E. Walnut, formerly Historic Properties of Springfield, is undergoing renovation to become the office of Young and Shuler LC.

In another development, the historic Apple Court Apartments at 1009 E. Walnut have been sold to Craig Wagoner, owner of some 200 housing units in the immediate area. Portions of the building were built in the 1940's.

Streetscape

The Walnut Street Merchants Association is in the process of undertaking a historic renovation along Walnut Street in the form of creating a historic-looking streetscape, according to Bill Compere, executive director of the Urban Districts Alliance.

The plan, Compere said, is to try to get some of the infrastructure back to the style of the early 1900s, including brick sidewalks and street lighting with more historic character. He added that the renovation might address stormwater problems as well.

Compere said that there has been some discussion about trying to bury electric lines underground, but that move would involve a major expense and also require large electrical boxes that wouldn't blend in well with the historic motif. "I'm not sure they're going to want to do that," he said. "Electric poles would be more historic than those big boxes."

Consulting engineers

Scott Consulting Engineers PC has been hired to work along with the Walnut Street Merchants Association on the Walnut Streetscape master plan,and according to Compere, the firm just met with the Landmarks Board to get their input and update them on the Walnut Street Merchants Association's discussions.

Chuck Marinec, grants administrator for the City of Springfield, said a portion of the streetscape project will be financed through Community Development Block Grant funds.

CDBG funds

The streetscape is one of several projects using CDBG funds. "It's an exciting project. We're hoping to get it underway this summer," he said.

The streetscape has a long-term timetable, but a portion of the project should be complete before the end of the year, Compere said.

"Walnut Street merchants are supportive and interested, as well as people in the community who want to maintain the historical integrity of our neighborhoods."