New Web site spotlights downtown

Through his Center City Development Company, Sam Freeman has launched www.godowntown4.com, a new Web site that offers a variety of information about downtown Springfield.

"I've been downtown and working to redevelop downtown for almost 20 years, and I thought I recognized some (areas) for some resource information ... that would be helpful to everybody and interesting, too," Freeman said.

"That's kind of how the concept took shape. I really wanted (the site) to be a place where people could find out about downtown," he added.

The site includes historical information and pictures, as well as updates about ongoing downtown projects, such as the relocation of Maria's, a Mexican restaurant, and the Seville Hotel, of which Freeman is one of the principals. The site also offers information about real estate, including loft apartments, and parking, both free and paid.

At this point, Freeman writes the content for the site himself, but he said there have been some offers from people who want to submit material.

"I've got just about a little bit of anything, everything. I really spent a lot of time and enjoyed getting that first part up that's got history, but it's all fun," Freeman said.

He said while the site is off to a good start, it's not quite finished yet. In the end, he wants it to be the page that both locals and people from other cities think about when they really want to know what's going on in downtown Springfield.

"In my years downtown, I've had so much fun learning history and telling stories, getting old pictures in the office ... that kind of personal history, I think, is something that we can pass on," Freeman said.

(The preceding article originally appeared in the June 19, 2001, issue of the SBJ Daily Update, a subscriber-only service.)