Imagine you live in a nice neighborhood, but there is one house—a large Victorian—that is about in the middle of the block.  This house, covered with weather-beaten clapboard with peeling paint, has been vacant for about ten years.

Whenever neighbors meet out in the street or at their mailboxes, the discussion almost always turns to this abandoned house and the effect that it has on the rest of the neighbors and the adjoining property values.  Several efforts have been made by different folks to fix up the house, but they’ve either run out of money or the effort was larger than they should have taken on.

This dark, boarded-up house casts a pall over the entire neighborhood.  Other properties that have been for sale over this period of time did not sell for the asking price because the buyers always discounted the offer based on the empty, dark building in the middle of the block.

The conversation among the neighbors always relates to the vacant house and how the neighborhood kids play around it.  There has been some damage, some tagging, and there is evidence that people have broken in to vandalize the interior of the house.

This is the situation that faces Springfield’s downtown neighborhood.  The choice is for that vacant house in the neighborhood (let’s call it “Heer’s”) to continue to set empty, dark, and vacant and function as a magnet for vandals and the homeless. The other option is for the neighborhood to come together, work with the owner a bit, and watch while the large building comes back to life and regains its former glory as the linchpin of the neighborhood.

In Springfield, we have a very active downtown and a number of new residents and businesses.  We welcome the new lofts, the new apartments, the new Bistro Market, the rejuvenated Ophelia’s, the Blue Bull Bar, and that new source for high quality Italian ice cream, Gelato Mio.

However, most of the other downtown investments—both commercial and residential—would be more secure if the Heer’s building could be renovated and reinvigorated.  Folks who have looked at purchasing the old Newberry’s building and the old Kresge building have passed, primarily because of that large brooding hulk on the northeast corner of Park Central Square.

I know that this will probably be one of the most controversial votes we’ve had since I’ve been on City Council, but it is also one of the most far-reaching in terms of the long-term development of our downtown neighborhood.  A rejuvenated building complete with high-end restaurant, bowling center, shops, and market-driven apartments would bring a new energy that just might elevate our latest downtown renaissance to the tipping point and tip it toward long-term success.

There have been a number of folks critical of the proposal that goes before Council. However, none of them presented an alternative other than "let it set, don't spend money."  I think most of us on Council would consider an alternative if it were out there, but--in the meantime--we have to play the hand we're dealt.

I, for one, think Kevin McGowan's plan is worth a try.