The state awarded the city a $500,000 grant to do the first phase, which would make the block accessible to all. The design and details regarding the $7.55 million Y-block/North Mansion Block initiative is on page 20-21 of the Mayor’s Transition Report. As noted in the article, the Springfield City Council rejected the world-class design initiative that would have been privately funded at a cost of more than $8 million. Don Tracy, part of the North Mansion Block Group that submitted the selected proposal, is now running for U.S. Senate. One of the block design critics at the time was then-state Sen. Andy Manar, now deputy governor.