The Rountree Urban Conservation District (Rountree UCD) is a “zoning overlay district with special standards” that was originally formed in 1985. Formed simultaneously with the Rountree UCD in 1985, the Rountree Area Advisory Council (now known as the Rountree Neighborhood Association) was created to “preserve and advance the neighborhood.”
And boy do we take that task seriously! In the years that followed Rountree residents spent more than a few of their evenings providing input and asking questions in community discussions.
Then the questions were directed at us when a News-Leader reporter called to get our thoughts on the new apartment building planned for the corner of Cherry Street and Kickapoo Avenue. On Sept. 22, 2014, individual Rountree board members and residents sent this letter to City Council:
“Dear (City Council Person),
As you may be aware…
In addition, and due to the swift advancement of the developer’s current plans, we are asking City Council to deny approval of Council Bill 2014-212. (A special ordinance adopting the East Cherry Flats Redevelopment Plan and Blight Report.)…
The Rountree Neighborhood is thankful for the development of the City of Springfield. We are eager to be active participants in the future growth and development of our area to work towards a plan that is not only conducive for our residents of Rountree, but to our MSU neighbors, and the entire Springfield Community. “
And so it began, Rountree’s passionate involvement in, and desire to improve and preserve not only our beautiful and unique piece of Springfield, but to set standards to help other neighborhoods do the same.
- March 17, 2015 – The RNA Board received word that “our project,” in which we would like the UCD and the RNA reviewed and have certain criteria met, was added to the Planning and Zoning department list of projects.
- May 2017 – We requested City Council impose an administrative delay on zoning requests and lot consolidation in Rountree until the UCD was revised. They approved this request.
- June 2017 – Traffic Calming Project. (photo of a planning meeting for this project is pictured above)
This process brought together private citizens, traffic planners, engineers, and traffic designers. Using choke points, bump out, speed guns, and a crosswalk made from tape the full reality of speeding cars and necessity for permanent traffic calming was brought to everyone’s attention. We made believers out of the naysayers. - We continued to have multiple conversations with City staff and council regarding land use, tax abatements, and four-plus-story structures. Conversations happened and compromises to benefit all were made.
- Fall 2017 brought us the expansion of Domino’s Pizza. Domino’s reached out to the RNA to endorse their appeal to the City for expansion of their building and parking lot. Appreciative of the collaborative attitude, the RNA board reviewed the plans, had conversations and determined the plans reasonable. Improvements were made.
- Spring 2018 – The City hired H3 Consultants to help bring to fruition the much-needed updates to our Neighborhood Plan. This initiated community input meetings and the solidification of a conceptual plan. Reminder…Neighborhood Plan first, then UCD. The purpose of these work sessions was to “Identify strategies and areas which over time will maintain and preserve the character and quality of the neighborhood. Residents with similar vision introduced us to the proposed plan for the old Spanish Mission building at Cherry Street and Pickwick Avenue. That plan included preserving and restoring the Spanish Mission building into a mixed-use space with a business, possibly a restaurant, below and apartment space above.
And finally, on Nov. 19, 2018, the Rountree Neighborhood Plan official revision was voted on and approved. The plan set action items in immediate, short, medium and long-term goals. We have already met our immediate goals (one of which was traffic calming), are halfway through our short-term goals, and continue to look ahead and move forward with equal passion and vision until all our goals are met.
How do we do it? We work with the City and developers. We continue to show up and have conversations. We value the importance of people, investment, and environment and that can only happen through conversation and collaboration.
Why do we do it? Our vision is for Rountree to be “green and walkable” with a thriving small business district, public art, and connected neighbors. Our vision has safe, tree-lined streets with understory lighting. We value placemaking. Front porch living with walkable, quality small business districts nearby are worth the investment. We do it to support the Cherry/Pickwick District as the neighborhood commercial center and gathering place. We do it to support diversity and a multi-generational community. Because we love Rountree and we care.