SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Springfield developer, Say U Can LLC wants to create a pocket neighborhood in the Rountree neighborhood but is seeking a tax freeze from city council before getting started. 

The idea of the pocket neighborhood is to create more social interaction among neighbors.

The plan would be to tear down two vacant homes on East Cherry Street replacing them with six small connected houses encircling a courtyard with a fire pit.

On Monday night, the developer requested a property tax freeze for the next ten years by starting the pocket neighborhood.

In order to get the property tax freeze, Council has to provide blight approval for the vacant homes that the developer wants to tear down.

However, some Rountree residents don’t want the vacant homes torn down and voiced their opinion to City Council.

“I think we all hate to see more housing coming down and always like to see reuse whenever possible,” says Rountree resident, Laurel Bryant.

“I think his target audience of who might like to live in this little pocket neighborhood is empty nesters that maybe don’t want to maintain their yard anymore, maybe young professionals who want to live close to downtown, be able to walk to the restaurants and breweries and everything else that’s nearby,” says Springfield economic development director, Sarah Kerner.

Council will vote in five weeks whether or not the developer will get the tax freeze he’s requesting.