Springfield Metropolis

The pillars of a community. This is what Levi Duncan had in mind when he came across the old Central Methodist Episcopal Church building at 102 West High Street, in downtown Springfield. Inspired by its Tudor Gothic style and spacious possibilities, Duncan has a vision for the location to become, “A space where you can come and celebrate your great life moments, but also be a resource for the community. Both on the business side of things if you're an entrepreneur, or on the retail side as well. I hope to cultivate a sense of belonging. It will be an asset for the community.”

Duncan moved to Springfield from the East Coast in 2020. He started his original business, Liberty Remodeling Co., the following year. “I did full-scale remodels in Maryland. We now have expanded to light commercial operations and have a supply/retail division here as well. I typically like to do at least one internal project. I saw this church sitting empty in the middle of downtown for years, and like all things, buildings don’t like to sit idle. It would be a travesty for a building of this scale to deteriorate. I knew it was something I wanted to redevelop and bring back into service for Springfield.”

The services Duncan is referring to are all cohesive with his philosophy on the pillars which make a city successful; Social, Infrastructural, Entrepreneurial, Mental, and Spiritual pillars.

As the general contractor for the Metropolis, and Chief Executive of both companies, Duncan was able to diversify the development of the venue, to utilize every corner to create a hub of functional spaces for various small businesses. All-in-all he had forty-five thousand square feet to work with. He purchased the building in April of 2023 for $500,000, “The project itself has totalled about $1.8 million, through a combination of support from The Small Business Development Center, the City of Springfield, the bank, and personal investment. “I’ve fallen in love with Springfield. Growth and inspiration is big here. If you have an idea there are lots of people that are willing to coach you and help bring it to fruition.” Duncan is referring to the 12-year, 75% real property tax exemption outlined by Springfield Economic Development Manager Bobby Bruno. Duncan got right to work in December of the year he made the purchase and has already established the home for multiple organizations on the property. Including the Nehemiah Foundation, Vivid Grace Salon, Clark County Literacy Center, Faux Glow tanning salon, and Secure Screening Services. There is still leasable space available.

The lower level of the church, which Duncan has dubbed “Downtown”, is under construction to be the site for a future market, as he noticed a lack of grocery and appliance resources in the downtown area. “The Metro-Market will be a specialty market for general use, providing items that people need. I’ve been working in this building for about a year and realized I couldn’t purchase a bottle of water without having to get in the car. There is no general market downtown and that affects the walkability of the city for people working, and living here. Those day-to-day items will be sold “Downtown” alongside retail booths for small vendors to display their products.” The Metro-Market will have its own entrance off of Center Street to be more accessible to Wittenberg and downtown housing/offices. Duncan has plans of commissioning local artists for murals on both the inside, and outside walls to beautify the location.

The nave of the church building has since been called “The Capitol” and will operate as a venue which can be rented for events or fundraisers. Their first experience hosting was a fall fashion show for a local boutique in September. “That was a good opportunity to experiment with the space and generate a checklist of things we might need to adjust or to improve for future events. The ladies that ran the show were amazing, I couldn’t get better marketing because of how they decorate and made the space more beautiful than my own expectations.” The Metropolis offers a stage, dance floor, tables, and chairs as well. “Any gathering that the community needs a modernized space for; weddings, corporate events, graduations, youth talent shows. This will be another option for people to congregate downtown.” The Capitol offers 600-seat space, including the uppermost level of the church which provides balcony space. This portion of the building has been named “Uptown”, for clear reasons.

By utilizing one of the city’s historic buildings to provide it with so much to offer, The Springfield Metropolis is sure to live up to its vision as a pillar for the community. The events venue, or “The Capitol”, is operational and booked up with a “good handful” of private events for the near future.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be sometime in Spring or early Summer once all other services have been established. To inquire about reserving The Capitol venue, leasing a space for your business, or other inquiries contact Kari Johnston at [email protected]. You may also visit their Facebook or website for more information and to book a tour.