"The nice thing is that this is a real project that's going to happen," Bea O'Quinn Dewberry quoted developer Peter Pappas of East Longmeadow in the January 19 Republican. Indeed, it is a nice thing. Is it really going to happen? "We have purchased the building, have all three tenants' leases signed and have our financing in place," Pappas said.
Wow. You mean, Mr. Pappas, that the complete transformation of the former Basketball Hall of Fame (at left)—right next to the new one—will really materialize? The $14 million-or-so project is said to yield a roughly 75,000 square-foot "riverfront entertainment and fitness experience," containing a California-based fitness facility, a sports grill, and a Trillium Sports Medicine and Day Spa. From a January 9, 2006 Business West article by Jaclyn Stevenson on the project:
“An idea can be a great one, but it has to make business sense as well,” Pappas said.
[Pappas and chiropractor-for-famous-people Michael Spagnoli] believe that their planned state-of-the-art fitness facility complete with medical and wellness offices, proposed bar and grill, and the climbing wall that will link the two, does just that.
Capitalizing on the riverfront itself is also a long-term goal for the pair, who hope to spur more frequent, safer use of the bike trail that runs along the river behind the site, starting with an inaugural mini-marathon when River’s Landing opens.
“Making a connection with the river is big, no one has really done it,” Pappas noted, adding that a boat landing might even be in the cards further down the road. “Inside, the space is going to be bright and open, but the best part will be the view—huge windows overlooking the riverfront.”
Construction is slated to begin in May, and the complex is expected to open in April 2008, according to the city's latest project update.
For a nearby site to the northwest of the former Hall of Fame, at the very end of Union Street and technically part of Riverfront Park, a rejected hotel project was proposed late last winter for a 135-room hotel complex. Would-be developers Dennis Serna of the Connecticut Riverfront Development and Mike Mueller of NYLO Partners had demands that were called too steep at the time. From William Freebairn's March 16, 2006 article in the Republican describing the rejection:
The city said developers had asked for almost $2 million in public funds for site preparation work, a 10-year period free of property taxes, a 99-year lease starting at $25,000 per year and freedom from sales tax on construction costs.
The developers also failed to make progress resolving railroad right-of-way questions raised at the site, the letter said. The site is separated from West Columbus Avenue by a railroad line. …
[T]he city said it preferred to resolve some site problems itself, such as access over the railroad tracks, and then put the parcel out to bid to any interested developer.
An earlier article in the Republican by Freebairn described the Riverfront Park parcel as "underused and not technically under the control of the Park Commission," but added, "The city has revised its urban renewal plan to include land on which the [proposed] hotel could be located."
David Panagore, now the city's Chief Development Officer, described potential for other riverfront development. From the article:
Panagore said there remain hurdles to any new construction development on the riverfront, especially since the area includes many subterranean obstacles, such as drainage culverts and construction debris, that make driving piles for foundation supports a challenge.
All the same, River's Landing is moving forward, and Pappas has announced a presentation tomorrow, January 31, 11:00 am at the Hoop Hall. In attendance to say a few words: Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan and CDO Panagore; Pappas; Spagnoli of Hidden Hills, California (via Springfield); Paul McDonald of the Springfield Riverfront Development Corporation; and John Doleva, Hoop Hall president. Proposed redevelopment renderings will be featured, and a "full media release" can be expected as well.
