A major update of the former MacArthur Park Apartments in Springfield has raised traffic safety and access concerns in the neighboring village of Jerome.

Jerome Mayor Mike Lopez said he expects traffic in the village to increase with the reopening of the north entrance onto Iles Avenue at the newly remodeled Boulevard Townhomes, 2715 S MacArthur Blvd. The only entrance to the apartments had been from MacArthur Boulevard under previous owners.

Approximately 25 percent of 184 apartments are occupied as an $18 million renovation nears completion, according figures provided at an open house last week by new owners Cohen-Esrey Affordable Partners. Lopez said he expects traffic on Iles to increase along with occupancy.

In addition to extensive apartment renovations, Kansas-based Cohen-Esrey repaired roads and parking lots, updated security, installed new landscaping and a community garden, and added a variety of resident amenities. Company managing director Tom Anderson said in an email the city of Springfield required the north-side road be reopened as a condition of project approval.

Anderson said there also were concerns for the safety of residents forced to cross two lanes of traffic when turning north onto heavily traveled MacArthur Boulevard.

“By exiting through our Iles entrance, they can catch the light at Iles and MacArthur, and safely turn left to head north on MacArthur,” said Anderson, who added that he is in conversations with First Student for relocation of the school-bus stop. First Student provides transportation services to the Springfield School District.

Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin, whose ward includes the townhomes, said the issue is complicated by the fact that it’s a private road emptying onto a public street. While the Boulevard Townhomes are in the city of Springfield, the section of Iles Avenue is in the village of Jerome.

“I can understand they (Cohen-Esrey) want to have a better traffic flow for residents,” said McMenamin. “It’s a narrow entrance off of MacArthur.”

The State Journal-Register