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In 2003, I was out of graduate school and working an 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. shift on Olympic Street in Springfield. When my wife dropped me off at work at night, she would drive the long way around downtown and back to our apartment near the University of Oregon because Springfield’s downtown was dark and sometimes scary. At that time, Springfield had already been working on downtown revitalization for a decade.
The rebirth of downtown Springfield is one of the great accomplishments of our community in the 21st century. For the last 25-plus years, neighbors, businesses and local leaders have collaborated to rebuild the core of the city. The success of our downtown can be a blueprint for community development across Lane County. I want to share a few stories that describe key moments in the revitalization of Springfield’s downtown. This is by no means an exhaustive list.
Springfield’s citizens
Springfield’s voters were key players. In the 2000s, they voted to establish an urban renewal agency downtown and to build the jail. The Springfield Economic Development Agency, or SEDA, uses public dollars to support economic development. The public safety levy built the jail and provided resources to the police to improve safety downtown. Our citizens did not just hope downtown would improve. They voted to put their money toward solving the problem.
Closing the bars
In the mid-2000s, the Springfield City Council made it a priority to close the bars that had become persistent public safety problems downtown. Former mayor Sid Leiken, then-councilor and future mayor Christine Lundberg and councilor Joe Pishioneri led the effort to pull liquor licenses and shut down establishments that were undermining safety.
Springfield Police Department
Before the jail was built, the corner of Fourth and Main streets was one of the most crime-ridden locations in Springfield. When voters gave police the resources they needed, crime dropped significantly. The work Springfield police did in 2008 was essential to families returning to downtown in the following decade.
Business support
SEDA has played a critical role in supporting private investment by covering infrastructure fees for downtown projects. From Roseboro’s mill expansion to the redevelopment of the Rivett Building, nearly every major private development downtown since 2010 has benefited from the agency’s help. In other cases, SEDA has been a partner, loan provider and early purchaser of property.
Arts and events
Public and private support for art has made downtown Springfield distinct, beautiful and welcoming. The city helped bring major pieces such as The Simpsons, Ken Kesey and Welcome to Springfield murals to life. The city is also a major contributor to both the Christmas Parade and the Springfield Block Party. These events bring thousands of people downtown each year. Together, we have made it safe, vibrant and fun to be in the heart of Springfield.
The downtown revitalization could not have happened without the work of dozens of businesses, investments of millions of public dollars, the police, elected officials, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and the public. This includes Masaka Properties, which, with the help of public dollars, is part of the story of a revitalized downtown.
Downtown Springfield is proof that managed decline is not inevitable. It shows that when a community has vision, invests its resources wisely and stays committed over time, it can reshape its future. As we move into 2026 with expectations higher than ever, the need for disciplined leadership and thoughtful stewardship will only grow. Communities that take charge of their future will be the ones that thrive.