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Land Use <br />study, the South Bank Study, supports this rezoning. A courthouse would be an allowed use in a <br />mixed-use zone (Bowers 2000 personal communication). <br />Alternative 1, Option A <br />Placement of the courthouse on the Riverfront site in Springfield (Alternative 1, option A) would <br />be consistent with current local land use regulations, zoning, and local redevelopment plans for <br />the river-front area. Although the adjacent areas are currently dominated by private residences <br />and apartment buildings, the city of Springfield plans to encourage redevelopment of the <br />surrounding area by designating it a mixed-use zone. Selection of Alternative 1 would not be <br />inconsistent with current local land use plans and policies. <br />Redevelopment of the Riverfront site to accommodate the courthouse would intensify land use in <br />the surrounding area, which is mostly zoned for residential development. The area within the <br />Riverfront site is currently zoned for community commercial use, which accommodates a wide <br />range of retail sales, service, and professional/office uses. Selection of Alternative 1 would <br />'i require relocation of the existing commercial operations at the site and would entail the loss of <br />approximately 145 parking spaces associated with those businesses. The loss of surface parking <br />would not be inconsistent with the Downtown Refinement Plan, which seeks to encourage <br />alternative modes of transportation by "gradually reducing space allocated for automobiles and <br />increase spaces for people to work, play, shop, and socialize." <br />Locating the courthouse on the Riverfront site would displace numerous businesses currently <br />residing in and adjacent to the Island Park Professional Center and would reduce the amount of <br />commercial space available in Springfield. This impact may be of concern, with the vacancy <br />rate for downtown retail property currently below 1 percent (Pappas 2000 personal <br />communication). However, the displacement of businesses on the Riverfront site would likely <br />induce development of new office space in other areas of Springfield, so that this reduction in <br />commercial space would not likely be a significant long-term impact. The section on <br />socioeconomic impacts provides a more detailed discussion of related impacts. <br />The Island Park Professional Center is currently dominated by medical service businesses. The <br />relocation of these businesses, in conjunction with city plans to establish acommercial/retail/ <br />mixed-use area around the Riverfront site, would alter the business community substantially. <br />Alternative 1, Option B <br />Land use impacts under Alternative 1, option B would be similar but slightly less than those <br />discussed above for Alternative 1, option A. <br />New Federal Courthouse 127 Final EIS <br />