YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Dear editor,
Springfield City Council approved $707,000 to hire planning consultant Houseal Lavigne Associates to help with ForwardSGF in 2019. ForwardSGF is Springfield's next 20-year comprehensive plan moving forward. After 57 workshops and 1,500 in person and over 5,500 online participants, a consistent top response dealt with the need to improve Springfield's overall look.
Springfield Business Journal, in the Jan. 6, 2020, issue reported then city of Springfield Director of Planning and Development Mary Lilly Smith stated, "One of the themes that came out of that is that people don't think Springfield is that attractive. ... We don't have a lot of landscaping, we don't do a good job of taking care of public right of way."
In the July 13, 2020, issue, she states, "There's a ton of commercial corridors throughout the community that are not very attractive."
SBJ in its Feb. 20, 2023, edition reported then city of Springfield Director of Planning and Development Susan Istenes stated, "One of the things we're looking at on the appearance front is our streetscapes on major intersections."
From Feb. 24-March 2, 2022, SBJ polled its readers: As a front door to the city for I-44, does Glenstone Ave present a positive impression? 76% voted no. SBJ on Dec. 27, 2021, reported the city of Springfield partnered with MoDOT to improve sidewalks on Glenstone and Kansas Expressway for $12.7 million. Zero of those funds went to streetscaping and the same is in progress now with East Chestnut Expressway. Lost opportunities to fulfill city officials and the citizens of Springfield's expressed desires for a better-looking Springfield.
The point is, until Springfield fully commits to visually improving/maintaining public thoroughfares, making Springfield a more welcoming and beautiful place, people will not want to come to a new convention center, definitely not a second time after experiencing the unattractiveness' the city has to offer.
—Charles M. Ewing, Springfield
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
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Our major roads/streets in Springfield are AWFUL. From different colored pavements that indicate "old" lanes that merge into "new lanes" along with POOR markings (yellow & white paint), it's almost impossible to know where to drive. I can't imagine how difficult it is for new visitors to our area. And then you add some of the BLACK BLACK pavement on a dark night complicated by rain and the roads/streets that, again, have those POOR markings (yellow & white paint), all you can do it try and follow where the cars in front of you are going.