Investors waited on the sidelines to see who would prevail in the 2012 presidential race. The country has been in neutral the past six weeks with the “fiscal cliff” dilemma at hand. The next uncertainty will be the implementation of the so-called Obamacare, and then undoubtedly there will be some other unforeseen geopolitical crisis on the horizon. The sands will be forever shifting in Foggy Bottom.
The past year saw many promising signs of activity in center city. The McQueary family purchased the Vandivort Center to develop into a boutique hotel and acquired the northeast quadrant of Park Central Square for the History Museum. Sunrise Media brought more than 100 jobs to the renovated Yellow Bonnet building, and the Lathrop & Gage law firm will return to its downtown roots in March. Loft and student housing projects abounded along Kimbrough, Jefferson and Market streets. Commercial Street attracted multiple firms of young professionals, and new restaurants and a bed and breakfast will open in the spring.
And yet, a new urgency is needed to face the challenges still before us. A culture of poverty has too many panhandlers on our streets and families in need. The Heer’s, Woolworth, Newberry and Sterling buildings remain vacant. The bus transfer station is long overdue for a new home and our greenway trails have too many gaps.
In the not-so-distant past, federal earmarks ignited the grand plans of Jordan Valley and the IDEA Commons. State tax credits motivated developers to pursue dozens of decaying buildings previously overlooked. Deficit reduction is the new mantra, however, and government funding is increasingly scarce. Little help will come from yonder hill.
It’s time to stop waiting on Washington, Jefferson City, stock markets, the Mayans, or whatever excuse has pulled in the reins this past year. It’s time we follow these three steps:
1. Take ownership. Too often, we become ensconced in a bubble at work or home. Extend your comfort zone to get involved in community issues that need improvement. Join a merchant organization, participate with police officers on Neighborhood Watch to address crime, and assist social services with more effective methods to address vagrancy.
2. Invest in the long term. Missouri State University, Drury University and Ozarks Technical Community College are forward-thinking collaborators who have revitalized and stabilized center city through initiatives in workforce development, entrepreneurship and the arts. Private businesses should look for every opportunity to partner with these institutions. On the other end of the educational continuum, there is a growing desire to do more for early childhood development. Springfield should strengthen its competitiveness by supporting Springfield Public Schools, private providers and families to make sure every child is ready for kindergarten. Finally, investors should follow the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ “double-bottom line” example by allocating a portion of its portfolio for strategic properties and enterprises that produce both financial and social returns for Ozarks communities. How much would your business benefit by having the most problem property on your street renovated into a higher and better use?
3. Create a compelling vision. The IDEA Commons, Central High School and historic C-Street are all examples of the impressive dividends of creating a compelling shared vision. The city is well on its way to more success stories with its community engagement processes for The Link and College Street Corridor. Projects such as the Heer’s building languish for one primary reason – they fail to inspire investor confidence. Find a concept that tenants and investors can get excited about, assemble a strong team, and the financing will take care of itself.
Center city has weathered the storms of the Great Recession, but it needs to find a higher gear in 2013. More business owners and residents should be engaged. More investments should be made in education, and investors should look for opportunities in their own backyard. The Urban Districts Alliance will work to find new ways to work with the city, chamber and its many civic partners to facilitate compelling visions for the future.
Everyone has a valuable role to play in making our community more vibrant and inviting. Imagine what we can accomplish together with less waiting and more working.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.
