At its November 9 meeting, the Springfield Urban Renewal Board moved to support two downtown revitalization projects that promise new opportunities for families and local businesses.
Partial Funding for Memorial Building
The board approved $277,000 of urban renewal money toward the remodel of the historic Memorial Building. The funds cover a trash enclosure, a riser system to connect floors, and parking‑lot improvements. The request came from Ike Olsson, owner of the Drifters Baseball Club, who purchased the building from the Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA) last year.
Olsson and co‑owner Kelly Richardson plan to transform the former Willamalane community center into a youth baseball academy, providing a safe, structured environment for Springfield’s children to learn the game. While the board declined to fund a new HVAC system—citing the agency’s “as‑is” sale of the property—the approved improvements lay the groundwork for a vibrant community hub.
Historic Mill Street School Apartment Project
The board also considered a $550,000 request from the developers of the historic Mill Street School conversion. The money would address window restoration and elevator repairs that were damaged by vandalism. Springfield Economic Development Manager Allie Camp noted that the developer has already spent money to remedy the vandalism, and the requested urban renewal dollars would allow the project to stay on schedule.
Camp explained, “Those dollars would have otherwise been spent on the project. The dollars requested from SEDA can complete the needs of the project.” The board asked staff to return for a follow‑up discussion on whether the funds could be structured as a loan.
Community Impact and Vision
Both projects reflect Springfield’s broader downtown vision: preserving historic structures while creating modern uses that serve families and local entrepreneurs. The Mill Street School conversion, led by Campfire Collaborative, will produce 40 market‑rate apartments that retain the building’s historic character. Architect Jenna Fribley praised the city’s “system development charges” program, which helps developers cover public‑infrastructure fees, and highlighted the importance of “committed grassroots developers” willing to bring projects to life.
“The success of downtown has been so dependent on a combination of both city vision and putting the pieces in place to help make projects viable,” Fribley said during public comment.
Children’s Museum Looks at New Location
During the same meeting, Amelia Reising, founder and director of Adventure! Children’s Museum in Eugene, asked the board to study the feasibility of moving the museum into the vacant Springfield Motors building on A Street. The museum currently occupies the Valley River Center and sees the downtown site as an opportunity to add value to the area and become a good neighbor to the library, the Drifters Academy, and other downtown amenities.
“I think we would add a lot of value to the area, and we’d be good neighbors to the library and the Drifters and all the other good stuff in the downtown area,” Reising told the board.
Next Steps
The board will reconvene with staff to finalize the terms of the Mill Street School funding and to explore the museum’s proposal. Springfield’s urban renewal efforts continue to prioritize projects that blend historic preservation with family‑focused uses, reinforcing the city’s commitment to a thriving downtown that supports both youth development and affordable housing.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
