Business in the 217: Springfield Business Journal Chat with Michelle Ownbey - 06/11/2025

Trent R. Nelson speaks with Michelle Ownbey, publisher of the Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times, about the latest happenings in the Springfield business community and all of the relevant bits fit for the greater community to learn about.

Topics Discussed In This Interview:

• Sangamon County officials have solicited proposals from development groups interested in potentially building a new $100 million downtown hotel adjacent to a proposed $93 million expansion of the BOS Center.

• The nearly $500 million effort to improve the Capitol Complex, including a major renovation of the long-vacant Illinois State Armory, continues to take shape in downtown Springfield. The 250,000-square-foot Armory building is being transformed from a civic center into an executive office building, with plans to move support staff from the governor's office and other state agencies into it upon completion.

• Ward 5 Ald. Keisha Purchase will hold a grand opening for her new business, 5th Street Gem, at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 11.

• Learn about the proposed Third Street Corridor through Springfield, planned to be developed following the relocation of the Third Street railroad tracks to the 10th Street rail corridor. A public open house will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, at the Dana-Thomas House. The "Linc" will extend from the Illinois State Fairgrounds to the Interurban/Wabash Trail near Stanford Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard, with the main portion of the greenway connecting to the 3rd Street railroad corridor through the downtown area.
• In addition to viewing the updated plans for the greenway, guests can enjoy guided tours of the historic Dana-Thomas House, offered every half hour by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources starting at 4:30 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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