New development with $50 million price tag headed to downtown Springfield

If people are asked what sits between The Old Glass Place and The Discovery Center, on the North side of East Saint Louis Street, they may draw a blank.

That's all about to change. Springfield City Council members approved an area along East St. Louis Street in Downtown Springfield be blighted at the start of November. Members also approved the construction of a $50 million apartment complex and retail space in the area.

The new building will be built directly west of The Old Glass Place and across the street from The Discovery Center in the 500 block of East St. Louis Street.

"They thought it was a sweet spot to re-energize and revitalize the center city," said Rob Haik, Principal Founder of H Design Group LLC., of the developers joining in on the project.

The building will stand five stories tall, have nearly 200 units of different sizes and offer different amenities for those living there. "This is an opportunity where we can move something right downtown and we can draw in the businesses and draw in more people," said Haik. "More people, more businesses, more vitality."

Some area businesses are pleased to see developers investing in the St. Louis Street corridor. "Anytime anybody is willing to invest in our urban core, that's going to be a positive for the community," said Rob Blevins, Executive Director of The Discovery Center.

Other businesses expressed concerns about parking.

Developers with the project said they are planning to build nearly 175 parking spaces for the building's residents and customers, in addition to having off-site parking options and shuttle services. Haik also said research from H Design Group shows people moving to urban areas like Springfield may not need parking spaces. "Parking has always been a concern in the past, but if you go downtown, everybody wants to walk, everybody wants to use the public services, everybody has Uber," began Haik. "It's a concern, but I think it's a changing trend that may not be a factor."

Developers expect the project to be completed in 2021.