Community partners, stakeholders and neighbors gathered on Commercial Street Feb. 7 to celebrate the construction of a transformative housing development in Greene County.
Sankofa is a new, four-story development bringing affordable housing as well as a business incubator and street-level retail to north Springfield. It’s developed by the Vecino Group, the nationally recognized affordable and permanent supportive housing developer who got their start in Springfield – and still have an office just two doors from what will be Sankofa.
“Over the past 14 years, we’ve celebrated more than 60 groundbreakings across 13 states, but today feels different. It feels personal. Our Springfield team has poured their hearts into this street and this neighborhood for many years, and today, we break ground right next door to the place we call home on Commercial Street,” said Jordan Gibson, senior vice president of organizational development for the Vecino Group.
“This development is unique,” said Aaron Henry, Vecino Group president. “Vecino’s greater good isn’t one specific thing– it’s the idea of solving broader community issues through housing. Together with Greene County, our City leaders and C-Street community, we arrived at a solution that offers 42 much-needed homes, but also the vitality of retail and new opportunity through its entrepreneurial space.”
Public Representatives from the State of Missouri, Greene County, the City of Springfield, Commercial Street CID, Merchants Association, The Commercial Club, as well as many neighbors and business owners were in attendance.
“In our experience, it takes the entire community to make transformative development happen,” said Gibson. “To deliver something as impactful as Sankofa – literally where our mission began – speaks to the character of Springfield.”
Sankofa is from the ancient Adinkra language, and translates as “learning from the past ensures a strong future.” Located at 411 W. Commercial St., Sankofa is the first new, from-the-ground-up development for Commercial Street in more than 50 years. When complete, it will deliver 42 brand-new, affordable homes, in a mix of efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units that all will serve households at or below 60% of the area median income.
The four-story building will have a third-level fitness area and fourth-level community room, both providing views overlooking Historic C-Street. The ground level will have five commercial spaces, one of which is set aside for the incubator space managed by the Multicultural Business Association to focus on the success of disability-, women- and minority-owned business for Springfield. This will offer a strong path forward through job and business counseling.
“New business ideas first need an opportunity,” says Springfield Multicultural Business Association Executive Director Darline Mabins. “… followed quickly by the need for resources. For the businesses whom MBA advocates, our space at Sankofa will help us provide both – and in a great area. We’re all really excited for it.”
The lead architect for the project is Vecino Design, with Oke-Thomas & Associates Design/Build, Commercial Spaces and MWBE Consultant. Vecino Construction is the general contractor.
Sankofa was made possible through the efforts of the local community: Greene County, Missouri; The Bank of Missouri; Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust; Missouri Housing Development Commission; Oke-Thomas + Associates, Inc.; City of Springfield; Harmony House Family Violence Prevention Center; Bring It Home, LLC and the Springfield Multicultural Business Association.
The $13.5 million development was made possible through support and funding from Bank of Missouri, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, Greene County American Rescue Plan Act funding and City of Springfield HOME and HOME ARP funding, and Bring It Home, LLC. Construction is set for completion by spring 2026.
Sankofa is a landmark development for Springfield, as Zone 1 City Councilwoman Monica Horton shared,
“This not only brings housing, but office space and retail opportunities for Black, Hispanic, Asian, Indigenous and Women business owners achieving their American dream through entrepreneurship. I am convinced that the best way to serve all of Springfield is together. A rising tide of public and private investment in Zone 1 floats all boats across the Queen City.”