SBJ.net Poll

Downtown Springfield has made many strides in recent years, but what do you think the area lacks most?

For poll results, click here.

What Readers Think

Parking

My husband and I have been trying to dine downtown in the evening for the past three weekends and have had trouble finding parking. We drive in from Nixa. We’ve decided to not go on the weekend until more parking becomes available (or go) for an early dinner at 5 p.m. to ensure we can get parking.

–Julie Reynolds, Reynolds Plastic Surgery

I voted (for) parking but also think that security is a perceived problem of why some businesses are not coming downtown. Other than the Discovery Center, it does not seem child-friendly.

–Debbie Hopkins, Clear Channel

Retail

This would be a good poll to let readers choose more than one, or to rank choices. I picked retail, but I also would have picked parking and lodging. And to weigh in on the downtown hotel controversy, it’s too bad the Colonial was torn down. If John Q. Hammons had really wanted to create a legacy, he could have funded the renovation of the Colonial as the JQH school of hospitality at MSU, using it as a student-run hotel/restaurant with a true downtown presence. I would also suggest that both the Holiday Inn Express, University Plaza and the two newly proposed hotels are just a little bit too far away to really be considered downtown hotels in the true sense of that term. A true downtown hotel, like you would find in Chicago or New York, has downtown right outside the front door, just like the Colonial would have done, or the Seville, had it been turned back into a hotel.

–Bob Bryant, Meridian Creative Alliance

Just a thought …

I think you should have added improved taxi service to the choices. I know many Springfield and surrounding residents who refuse to go downtown to patronize the fine restaurants because of the DWI task force that makes it perilous to drive home. I agree that we do not want a lot of drunk drivers on the streets, but the possibility of getting stopped after a couple glasses of wine when one doesn't know what might happen is enough to deter many from taking any chances. If we had a better taxi service, the downtown would be much more appealing to many who would love to go there more often but don't want to take any chances. I love the downtown area and want to continue to see it grow. Just a suggestion.

–Keith LaFerriere, St. John's Clinic-Facial Plastic Surgery

Current Question

Which proposal for the redevelopment of the Heer’s building would you vote for?

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