The winds blow, leaves fall and a whirlwind season of change has arrived in center city.
Billy and John McQueary recently announced plans to renovate the historic Vandivort into a 45-room boutique hotel. They are diligently working with the building’s current 17 office tenants and the Springfield Contemporary Theatre to find new downtown spaces to relocate. Several buildings could potentially benefit, including the Holland, Wilhoit, Woolworth and Remington’s.
The Springfield-Greene County History Museum closed in October on the purchase of Abundant Life Church – the former Fox Theatre. The History Museum will eventually encompass most of the northeast corner of Park Central Square, spanning the former Barth’s building, Sherwood law office and Fox Theatre.
Discussions continue with Rosenbaum’s Jewelry for the future.
Just around the corner, two new establishments opened this past month on Park Central East with Dublin’s Pass and Instinct nightclub – formerly Jekyll & Hyde and Icon nightclub, respectively. Construction continues on converting Fedora’s into a Parlor 88 and the old Skinny Improv into Vintage nightclub.
The McDaniel building has new owners, and the Woodruff was expected to close in early November. The renovation of the Landmark Building will start in the next few months and be converted into lofts under a new name – The Frisco.
Lathrop & Gage law firm will be returning to its downtown roots in March when it moves into 19,000 square feet on the first floor of the BKD building on St. Louis and John Q. Hammons Parkway.
Sunrise Media relocated a few months ago to the Yellow Bonnet building at Campbell Avenue and Olive Street, and the company already is working to hire another 80 associates.
Downtown redeveloper Jason Murray is converting the Springfield Tire Exchange at McDaniel Street and Market Avenue into loft apartments and first-floor commercial spaces.
Craig Wagoner is finalizing the permits to build a new three-story infill project at McDaniel and Campbell, with first floor commercial space and two floors of studio apartments that will directly connect to the College Station Car Park.
Great Southern Bank is remodeling the building on the northwest corner of South Avenue and Walnut Street – returning home to the building it occupied from 1955–86.
Also on South Avenue, Scotch and Soda, as well as South & Walnut Bar & Grill, opened this past month, and around the corner on Walnut, Pappo’s Pizza is scheduled to open in November, after months of delays.
The grocery industry continues to step up its growing competition with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. pursuing plans for a 40,000-square-foot Neighborhood Market at the corner of Campbell and Grand Street.
Commercial Street also has several renovations underway, including Eurasia Bed and Breakfast in the former Springfield Mattress building, Artisan Oven just east of Boonville and Commercial, and White River Brewing Co. at Lyon Avenue.
Not only will there be new businesses and buildings, the city has convened the Park Central Square Task Force to make recommendations to City Council on ordinances, policies and activities to create new expectations of behavior that are inviting to everyone.
Fall is a season of transition with blustery winds and unexpected storms. Bundle up and venture out to see what’s happening.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.[[In-content Ad]]
