Matt Blevins, developer of the Boyd Lofts, shared with Network members the story of the redevelopment effort for the former Boyd Elementary School building. He purchased the building from Springfield Public Schools (SPS) 18 months after the last students walked the halls as Boyd Elementary moved to Division Street. Blevins worked closely with SPS during this transition time. The space is now home to 17 apartment units with a variety of floor plans as well as a commercial space that will house Kingdom Coffee’s new venture, as it looks to expand beyond coffee to include dining options.

Adaptive reuse projects like the Boyd Lofts are not easy to pursue for a variety of reasons according to Belvins. The most critical aspect of the project was securing the approval of the neighborhood residents. Blevins said that he purposefully engaged with residents more often than was required by the City of Springfield to ensure residents believed the redevelopment would be an asset to the neighborhood.

Blevins believes it is important to maintain the historic integrity of the former Boyd Elementary School building and he has worked closely with Arkifex Studios, a local architecture firm, to preserve elements original to the building. Features such as floors, doors and coat racks were the same ones used by students during the 110-year history of the Midtown neighborhood school.

Blevins explained that it is critical for developers to reimagine older buildings in the central city neighborhoods to avoid the donut effect, an exodus of the urban core as people, jobs, retailers and housing move to the suburbs. This can result in an area falling into disrepair and creating dire economic impacts.

Network members were able to tour the building and see the variety of floor plans that are available before residents begin occupancy in early August.