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SOUTH END MASTER PLAN

BACKGROUND The Sough End is the smallest of 17 neighborhoods in Springfield. It consists of approximately 196 acres of land and is located immediately south of the Central Business District. It is bounded by the Connecticut River to the west, Union and Howard Streets to the North, Maple Street to the east, and Mill Street, the Mill River and Main Street to the south.

The neighborhood has several strengths including the fact that it is ethnically diverse, has strong family ties and long-standing family-owned businesses that attract visitors from both the city and neighborhood regions. It combines commercial and residential uses. It has undergone several phases of a city sponsored urban renewal plan including demolition of structurally substandard apartment buildings and the addition of open space and commercial properties.

Another project was completed on west Columbus Avenue. Deteriorating residential buildings were cleared and the Basketball Hall of Fame was constructed, but little was done in terms of river-oriented development. A third phase of the project included the rehabilitation and clearing of substandard structures and the re-zoning of portions of the area from business to residential use. The plan also called for additional parking lots and open space.

THE STUDIO Remaining concerns of the residents were identified and compiled into a list of goals for another project in a 1995 report. These concerns included the reuse or demolition of vacant buildings and use of vacant lots, integration of new development into the neighborhood, development of community centers, and preservation of important assets such as historic structures. From these concerns, the Planning Department developed a series of proposals including zoning changes to preserve the character of the neighborhood, expansion of open space and improvement of buildings, and an overall improvement of the appearance of the neighborhood.

A preliminary/generalized list of goals for this project, according to city officials and concerned residents seems to be the following:

Address the Hollywood section: decrease density and provide open space, improve livability, address and problem of vacant buildings and lots
Provide gateways into the neighborhood: Broad Street and Union Street
Enhance Main Street: create a walking trail through the neighborhood, unify the businesses, consider options vacant storefronts
Enhance the riverfront: better incorporate it into the neighborhood, protect this important corridor

LAND USE An analysis of both current land use and zoning was conducted for the South End of Springfield. The purpose of this study was to assess development patterns and density within the South End neighborhood.

DESIGN PROJECTS Projects were organized around key locations and streets in the South End neighborhood. Projects included: