SPRINGFIELD – A proposed bill in Illinois would rename and expand the Mid-Illinois Medical District, which the sponsoring lawmaker dubbed as an effort to revitalize downtown Springfield.
The proposed expansion from State Sen. Doris Turner, D-Springfield, would notably include Springfield Clinic to the south. The proposal would expand the current boundaries of the medical district from Madison Street to South Grand Avenue — excluding the area designated as part of the master planning area for the Capitol complex.
The district would be renamed the Capital City Downtown Medical District.
Senate Bill 2829 also seeks to broaden the scope of the medical district to provide more economic development and greater revitalization of downtown Springfield, according to a news release from Turner.
Turner did not respond to questions by the time of publication.
What is the Mid-Illinois Medical District?
The Mid-Illinois Medical District is a one-square mile designation. Established in 2003 by an Act of the Illinois General Assembly, the MIMD is a “vibrant environment that supports patient care, bio-medical research, new medical technologies and advanced medical-related activities,” according to the district’s website.
The district’s commission has the ability to issue bonds and receive grants from the state or the federal government. That commission includes stakeholders from Springfield Memorial Hospital, HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield Clinic and the SIU School of Medicine.
If Turner’s bill becomes enacted, the commission would be authorized to construct housing, educational buildings, and research facilities. The commission would still work with the Springfield city council.
A commissioner’s perspective
Reached by The State Journal-Register, John Stremsterfer, who is one of 10 commissioners, said he felt encouraged after testifying at a Senate Committee hearing on March 11.
“There seemed to be a concurrence that they all (lawmakers) would to see, from the state’s perspective, an improved capital city in the downtown district. That was really encouraging, that people care. Anything we can rally together to improve this capital city, I think we’re in favor of, and hopefully this will be an expanded tool — something that can get us there faster,” Stremsterfer said.
Stremsterfer is also the president and CEO of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln, which helped to coordinate the master plan that was completed for the downtown and the medical district combined. He said the master plan could have been the impetus for this proposal.
“Throughout that process, there was a thought of expanding the medical district boundaries to hopefully utilize some of the tools that it’s provided already – into a larger geographic area,” he said.
The master plan, nearly three years in the making, is the first of its kind for downtown Springfield and a successor to one adopted by the medical district in nearly two decades, the SJ-R previously reported.
Springfield Clinic statement
Acting CEO of the Springfield Clinic, Jen Boyer, said in an email statement to the SJ-R that becoming part of the district would “strengthen collaboration among local health care organizations and physicians, expand access to innovative services, and support economic development in the heart of our city.”
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: New bill would rename, expand Springfield’s medical district
Reporting by Tom Ackerman, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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