urban development

Nuisance properties have been a challenge in Springfield for decades. On Monday night City Council voted unanimously to try some new approaches to the problem.

A new nonprofit, Urban Land Institute Southwest Missouri, hopes to shape more productive debates about land use in Springfield.

The latest twist of the University Heights development controversy in Springfield will see a rezoning proposal for the corner of National & Sunshine sent back to the city Planning & Zoning Commission — after the commission already rejected an earlier version of the proposal.

After a three-month saga, Springfield City Council voted Monday night to repeal a February ordinance allowing eminent domain to buy the Hotel of Terror property downtown.

On Thursday night, seven of the nine Springfield Planning & Zoning Commissioners voted against a rezoning proposal that would allow for development at the corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue.

Eminent domain would allow the city to force a sale of the Hotel of Terror property, a Halloween destination downtown since the late 1970s. The city wants the Hotel of Terror location to become part of plans to improve the Jordan Creek area, as a way of drawing more investment downtown.

After hours of discussion Thursday night, Springfield Planning & Zoning Commissioners voted to delay deciding whether a controversial University Heights rezoning proposal should be forwarded on to City Council.

Springfield Mayor Ken McClure was re-elected for a final two-year term, after a heavily contested campaign. McClure was seen as pro-development, while challenger Melanie Bach took a pro-neighborhood stance.

Last week, a citizen-driven report on what to do about run-down Springfield homes was made public by the Springfield News-Leader. The Nuisance Property Work Group offers unusually pointed criticism of the city’s track record for making sure homes are livable.

Springfield City Council voted 7-to-1 to delay a state plan to put medians along East Sunshine Street, after businesses in the area balked at the idea of more regulation on car traffic.