CEDA pivots from long‑term holding to selling with development outcomes for downtown and Glenwood sites

At a combined CEDA and council work session Saturday, Springfield's economic development arm revisited its urban renewal plans and property portfolio, and set a clearer direction for how the city will use development assets.

Ally (staff) briefed the CEDA board on urban renewal goals: "promote public and private development," rehabilitate building stock, improve streets and utilities, and "provide for new and rehabilitative housing opportunities," she said. The plans give the city flexibility to acquire and dispose of property to "cure blight" and spur private investment.

Board members said the agency's recent experience — including the memorial building sale — showed the preferred outcome: use acquisition powers to enable redevelopment, then sell to a developer that will deliver the agreed result. "We're not here to long‑term hold; we are here to do public‑private partnership that spurs true development," one board member said.

Discussion of specific properties raised practical questions: some downtown buildings would require substantial upgrades to meet current codes, and demolition plus site preparation may be the most viable path to attract developers. Board members asked staff to build standard disposition templates with clear time‑bound performance milestones so buyers commit to construction timelines when property is sold.

CEDA also discussed how its two district areas — downtown and Glenwood — relate. The board agreed the districts should be considered together strategically even though funds remain separate by statute, and that incremental, targeted investments are preferable to attempting to solve every need at once.

Staff will prepare a public guidance packet and an applicant checklist to make the process of proposing development more transparent, and will present disposal templates that include development milestones and performance check‑ins for potential sales.