Springfield is primed for a massive overhaul, according to a study released Friday that mapped out redevelopment of the Fairfax County locale.
A major part of the Urban Land Institute’s plan, said Tom Eitler, ULI’s director of Advisory Services, is “a new branding” that would let people know they’re in Springfield.
The report characterized Springfield as “not a place,” and as an unincorporated area with no boundaries or history. It detailed current conditions of fragmented development and aging and declining properties.
Land east of Interstate 95 is envisioned as a regional center, drawing businesses from outside the area, while land to the west of the interstate would be developed as town center with more of a community scale, Eitler said.
Transportation was a major focus of the recommendations. ULI suggests new road projects, including the construction of a bridge next to the Amherst Avenue bridge, he said.
Revitalization projects are already planned for the area, including the 9.5-acre Midtown Springfield project and a revamp to the Springfield Mall area.
Lee District Supervisor Dana Kauffman said the ULI report contained “a lot more substance” than he expected, and took a different tack for “reinventing” the area.
“It gives us a third-party analysis on how to best connect the dots for Springfield’s future,” Kauffman said.
At a glance
The Urban Land Institute drew some harsh conclusions on the current state of Springfield. The area, according to the group, is characterized by:
» Aging and declining properties
» Patchwork development
» No meaningful skyline
» Lack of amenities
» Architectural disharmony
