SEDA Weighs Future of Downtown Springfield Parcels

The Springfield Economic Development Agency has begun visioning discussions on redeveloping three adjacent downtown lots near Seventh and A streets.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Regional Economics

SEDA Weighs Future of Downtown Springfield Parcels

Live Poll

Should Springfield use public funds to redevelop vacant downtown lots?

The Springfield Economic Development Agency began visioning discussions on redevelopment of three downtown parcels near Seventh and A streets. The agency controls the 1.09-acre site, which was previously slated for an eight-story mixed-use project that became financially infeasible in 2023.

Why it matters

The parcels sit in a central downtown location zoned Mixed-Use Commercial, and financing remains the primary obstacle for any prospective builder. The outcome will shape whether the stalled site returns to productive use in Springfield.

The agency's records show a 1.09-acre site and a $1.75 million acquisition price for two of the parcels in 2024. Whether the parcels will be developed as one project or several has not been decided.

The players

Springfield Economic Development Agency (SEDA)

The municipal agency responsible for economic development and property holdings in Springfield, Oregon, which controls the three downtown parcels under discussion.

The details

SEDA took ownership of the 740 A St. lot in December 2023 through a predevelopment loan forgiveness agreement after the Blue McKenzie project collapsed. The three lots, which include the former Buick showroom at 702 A St. and a rear lot at 751 B St., are all zoned Mixed-Use Commercial.

2023: The Blue McKenzie eight-story project became financially infeasible.
December 2023: SEDA took ownership of the 740 A St. lot.
2024: SEDA acquired the former Buick property and B Street parcel for $1.75 million.
October 12: SEDA's board discussed the parcels at an agenda item.

Regional Context

The three parcels carry Mixed-Use Commercial zoning, the same designation under which the Blue McKenzie eight-story project was proposed before financing collapsed. The site's stalled status therefore reflects a gap between zoning allowances and the financing needed to realize them.

Residents and nearby business owners may see the stalled lots remain vacant until a viable financing plan emerges. Any future development on the parcels would depend on whether SEDA chooses separate or combined projects.

The takeaway

Vacant downtown parcels often stay idle when zoning allows dense development but financing does not. Watching how SEDA resolves the separate-versus-combined question may signal the path forward for the site.