HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Plaza and Entry Upgrades at Springfield City Hall AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 5/13/2013
Meeting Type: Work Session
Staff Contact/Dept.: Jim Polston, DPW
Staff Phone No: Ext. 3652
Estimated Time: 20 Minutes
S P R I N G F I E L D
C I T Y C O U N C I L
Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown
Feel while Focusing on Livability and
Environmental Quality
ITEM TITLE: PLAZA AND ENTRY UPGRADES AT SPRINGFIELD CITY HALL
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Approve concepts and direct staff to proceed with design.
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Development and Public Works has identified a project to upgrade the appearance and
functionality of the entry plaza at Springfield City Hall sometimes known as Centennial Fountain
Square. There are a number of issues that we plan to address with this project including:
• Updating the appearance of City Hall’s aging plaza
• Repair or replace damaged infrastructure and/or unsafe conditions
• Improve and enhance the usability of this existing public space
• Create a more prominent and identifiable entry to City Hall
• Be a part of the revitalization of Springfield’s downtown core
ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Council Briefing Memorandum
Attachment 2: Plaza and City Hall Entry Concept Drawings
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
The City Hall plaza was constructed as a part of the Springfield Civic Center project in 1980
with the Centennial Fountain added in 1985 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the
founding of Springfield. However, the plaza has fallen into disrepair that does not reflect the
high standards of the City of Springfield or our Citizens. The plaza and entry stairs need to be
upgraded to create a more attractive, vibrant and usable City Center. This is important because it
is open and available, day and night, to our diverse population and is available to be utilized by
all. There are several aspects to the project that should be considered including landscaping,
paving upgrades, improving functionality, creation of a better sense of space, and enhancing the
main entry to City Hall. Currently this project has three routes toward success. All lead in the
same direction but require different amounts of time and money to complete in an attempt to
reach the same location, a vital, vibrant Civic Center.
First involves authorizing Staff to move forward on our currently funded project which involves
improving the plaza using a creative mix of new elements laid in with much of the existing
elements to create a more useable, vibrant plaza.
Second is for Council to earmark additional funding for the existing project that will be used to
install additional site furnishings, new electrical and water hookups around the plaza, and
installing pedestrian scale lighting that matches what is currently planned for A Street. These
improvements offer more flexibility for attracting and maintaining activities.
Third involves additional planning and consideration but in essence involves coordinating the
existing plaza project into a much larger downtown/government civic center. This should
include coordination of the City Hall with a new public library complex on the Carter Building
site, as well as with the Justice Center and Sprout.
Recommendation: Staff is recommending City Council authorize staff to proceed with the
currently funded project as illustrated in the attached concept drawings. At the same time staff
will continue to research, evaluate and estimate costs for additional designs and options
incorporating a larger civic center approach that takes into account a new Springfield Public
Library and other civic and government facilities in this area. The costs and timeline of this
project could vary greatly due to a number of factors. One major factor would be the timing of a
new Library and the sequencing of construction (which comes first a plaza or a library).
M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield
Date: 5/13/2013
To: Gino Grimaldi
COUNCIL
From: Len Goodwin, DPW Director
Jim Polston, Associate Project Manager BRIEFING
Subject: Plaza and Entry Upgrades at Springfield City Hall
MEMORANDUM
ISSUE: Development and Public works has identified a project to upgrade the appearance and
functionality of the entry plaza at Springfield City Hall sometimes known as Centennial
Fountain Square. There are a number of issues that we plan to address with this project
including:
• Updating the appearance of City Hall’s aging plaza
• Repair or replace damaged infrastructure and/or unsafe conditions
• Improve and enhance the usability of this existing public space
• Create a more prominent and identifiable entry to City Hall
• Be a part of the revitalization of Springfield’s downtown core
COUNCIL GOALS/
MANDATE:
Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and
Environmental Quality
The plaza was constructed as a part of the Springfield Civic Center project in 1980 with the
Centennial Fountain added in 1985 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of
Springfield. However, the plaza and stairs have fallen into disrepair and does not reflect the
high standards of the City of Springfield or our Citizens. The plaza and entry stairs need to be
upgraded to create a more attractive, vibrant and usable City Center. This is important because
it is open and available, day and night, to our diverse population and is available to be utilized
by all. There are several aspects to the project that should be considered including landscaping,
paving upgrades, improving functionality, creation of a better sense of space, and enhancing the
main entry to City Hall.
BACKGROUND: There is much interest in downtown Springfield and much activity is taking
place. In just the last few years Springfield has adopted several plans and formed committees
that are working together to promote and sustain:
• vibrant retail blocks,
• inviting pedestrian-friendly streets,
• downtown housing,
• an enhanced civic center and public spaces,
• cultural destinations such as the Springfield Library and
• connections to Island Park and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Staff understands and agrees with Council that it is important to take some action quickly to act
as a catalyst in realizing these goals. To that end staff prepared concepts for improving the plaza
and entryway at Springfield City Hall. Using $30,000 earmarked from the City’s Building
Preservation fund and a $30,000 grant received from CDBG we plan to improve the plaza using
a creative mix of new elements laid in with much of the existing elements to create a more
useable, vibrant public space. New surface materials, redesigned plantings, a place for
recognizing important citizens, along with a more prominent to entry to City Hall will have an
immediate, positive impact on the downtown.
Attachment 1-1
However, with some additional funding this project could have an even greater impact and yet
remain a cost effective way to attract more activity downtown. By introducing new site
furnishings, adding electrical and water hookups around the plaza, and installing pedestrian scale
lighting that matches what is currently planned for A Street; Centennial Fountain plaza would
be a much more flexible and desirable location for attracting and holding public events and
activities. Past and present events like the farmers market, library youth events and the Nick
Symmonds Straight 800 have all been successfully held on the existing plaza. However,
implementing our currently planned project, along with the additional improvements mentioned
above, these existing activities, and many others, would be much easier to attract, host and
maintain. Imagine art and cultural events, food carts, street vendors, concerts and the like filling
the plaza, both during the business day and after-hours, enlivening this currently underutilized
community asset.
This concept does not have to stop with the City Hall plaza. It could and should be coordinated
with plans for the public property just across the street to the west, currently occupied by the
Carter Building and its parking lot. This property is highlighted in the Downtown District Urban
Design Plan as the location of a new Springfield Public Library complex. Creating connections
between this site both visually and functionally with City Hall, Sprout and the Justice Center is a
fantastic concept that must be considered and coordinated to truly have a vital, vibrant Civic
Center.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Staff is recommending City Council authorize staff to proceed
with the currently funded project as illustrated in the attached concept drawings. At the same
time staff will continue to research, evaluate and estimate costs for additional designs and
options incorporating a larger civic center approach that takes into account a new Springfield
Public Library and other civic and government facilities in this area. The costs and timeline of
this project could vary greatly due to a number of factors. One major factor would be the timing
of a new Library and the sequencing of construction (which comes first a plaza or a library).
Attachment 1-2
Library
Parking
Lot
CITY
HALL
A Street
5th Street
Library
Entrance
Recognition
Plaza
Synthetic Turf
Centennial
Fountain
Decking
Main Entry Stairs
Elev.
New Trees
and Landscape
New Trees
and Landscape
Existing
Landscape
This concept reflects:
Repaired and renovated Main entry stairs
Expansive concrete supplemented with
alternative materials such as synthetic
turf, pavers and/or decking material to
provide a variety of surface choices and
visual interest to the plaza.
Upgraded and additional landscaping to
provide a better sense of entry to City
Hall, enhance curb appeal, and replace
unhealthy plants.
These improvements are intended to make
modest alterations to the existing space to
create a more usable, vibrant public space
providing and immediate positive impact to
downtown.
North
Not to Scale
Attachment 2-1
Library
Parking
Lot
CITY
HALL
A Street
5th Street
Library
Entrance
Recognition
Plaza
Synthetic Turf
Centennial
Fountain
Permeable Pavers
Main Entry Stairs
Elev.
New Trees
and Landscape
New Trees
and Landscape
Existing
Landscape
This concept reflects:
Repaired and renovated Main entry stairs
Expansive concrete supplemented with
alternative materials such as synthetic
turf, pavers and/or decking material to
provide a variety of surface choices and
visual interest to the plaza.
Upgraded and additional landscaping to
provide a better sense of entry to City
Hall, enhance curb appeal, and replace
unhealthy plants.
These improvements are intended to make
modest alterations to the existing space to
create a more usable, vibrant public space
providing and immediate positive impact to
downtown.
North
Not to Scale
Attachment 2-2
Recognition
Plaza
Area
Library Entrance
Elevator Tower
Main Entry Stairs
Plaza Flag Poles Relocated to
the Front Façade of City Hall
Possible Accent Planters
North
Not to Scale
Full Color Logo
Entry Signage
Book Drop Area
Attachment 2-3