There needs to be some kind of incentives to attract business to the downtown area as well as renovate some of those deteriorating buildings to make it attractive to some national chains. Also some of the businesses that are there need to step up their game a little such as McLynn's ... went there once and will never go back it's disgusting and it smells and the food is nasty. Went to Darby Road in Scotch Plains and it blows McLynns out of the water. The tomato garden .... really??? Hunan Spring is so much better and it's a block away. A Starbucks would go nicely on the corner of Caldwell pl. and Morris ave.

Sounds great. I have lived in Springfield 26 years and this is the 26th study done. Nothing changes. We get the same businesses over and over(pizza, dry cleaners, nail places and chinese). The town makes things difficult for anyone to open a business with way too many ordinances. This study will go with the others, but now the garbage is only picked up once a week.

Im in springfield for about 50 yrs out of my 54. I have to admit there are lots of bagel , pizza & chinese choices but no bowling alleys. Anyone remember when the old motor vehicle agency was an 6 or 8 lane bowling alley? ( I could be wrong on the # of lanes but it definately existed) I used to go there as a 8 year old when i 1st started bowling.

I wish Springfield would expand more choices in town as far as food choices go. Some establishments choose not to come here also because they dont feel its worth it due to lack of customers. They tried to bring in a blimpies for example not once but twice and both times it failed. Until the downtown gets redeveloped the town will never take off in my opinion.

Nothing will ever change!!!!!!!!!!!. But keep paying for studies!!!!!!!

The only way anthing will change is if the property owners are willing to invest in their properties. And to do so, they have every right to want their investments to generate additional revenue for them, since the existing properties are currently generating revenue despite their condition.
The governing body has to be wililng to allow property owners to build higher (2 stories more) so that additional units can be rented which will result in additional review to justify the outlay made by the owners. And in turn it will create more potential customers for whatever retail businesses decide to locate in town.

Same goes for the private homes...another level can't hurt. Where's that light rail station for Springfield? How about a small movie theater as well as a bowling alley?

Why can't Downtown be filled with quaint shops, old fashion ice cream parlors with soda fountains and bright decor, charming old fashion dessert & coffee shops with lacey curtains, international cuisine, vintage and antique shops, and perhaps a bowling alley! Township should capitalize on the historical influence Springfield has had in the American Revolutionary War. Let's go from the "forgotten victory" to achieving recognition as a town full of charm. Leave the big business ideas for the Rt. 22 traffic and develop a cohesive plan that invites neighboring towns to spend their $$ here. Take some ideas from Lambertville and towns like it. http://www.lambertville.org