The former Pillsbury Mills plant on the north east side of Springfield closed 20 years ago. The 18-acre property has significant legal entanglements and is known to be contaminated with asbestos and lead paint. The surrounding neighborhoods are among the most severely impoverished in Springfield.
Removal of existing structures and redevelopment of the site will provide the area with public safety, environmental, health, justice, and economics benefits.
Moving Pillsbury Forward (MPF) has positioned itself to coordinate redevelopment of the 18-acre site.
The Pillsbury project is large and complex but manageable. The project is reasonable and workable with the coordination provided by Moving Pillsbury Forward. It is also clearly worth the effort.
Doing nothing is the worst possible outcome. A successful outcome will require significant support from both public and private sources – and the support of the entire Springfield community. Please join us.
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Headhouse Crane Lift and Demo Progress
Friends, Last Friday morning (10/10) the crews from Select Demo used a 250′ crane to lift equipment and supplies to the top of the 224′ tall Headhouse. Removal of the silver coating on the top half of the Headhouse is the last phase of cleanup at the site. All of the buildings were cleared of…
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Demo Progress – Former Employees – Date Nails
Friends, Demolition of the 96,000 square foot Grocery Mix Building at Pillsbury continues this week. The 8000lb wrecking ball is making good progress and it is easy to imagine that the sugar tower on the roof of the building will come down this week. Yesterday the second floor forklift bridge that connected the Grocery Mix Building and…
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Big Demolition to Begin 10am Thursday!
Friends, Update Wednesday, September 17: The big crane and wrecking ball are ready to go! The smokestack comes down at 10:00am tomorrow (9/18/25). Everyone is welcome to come and be a part of the celebration. MPF has established a great viewing area near the main Pillsbury gate. There is plenty of parking in the former…
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“Pillsbury: Past, Present, and Future”
Chris Richmond, retired Fire Marshall in Springfield, IL and creator of the group Moving Pillsbury Forward, gives a PechaKucha presentation on “Pillsbury: Past, Present, and Future” as part of Springfield Inner City Older Neighborhoods’ (ICON) Annual Party Fundraiser 2019.