Great Weather on Tap for Saturday Barbecue

After a soggy few days, we are happy to relay that AccuWeather calls for pleasant, partly sunny conditions for Saturday’s NSNA barbecue. A high temperature of 80 degrees is forecast, with gentle breezes and humidity below 60% in the afternoon. We have been laying in supplies of lemonade and classic flavors of soda pop all […]

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Benefits of Urban Wetlands and Their Buffer Areas

In their Wetlands Request for Determination of Applicability (PDF) filed with the city last month, Kohl Construction portrays the wetlands between North Street and the bike trail as “degraded”, partly because there’s a grain of truth to this and partly (presumably) to make people feel less bad about development in this area. Kohl’s Area Description: […]

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Gazette: “North Street has a blog”

Today’s Gazette mentions NorthAssoc.org in Dan Crowley’s Off the Beat column: A new “urban” blog focusing on the concerns of a neighborhood group has popped up on [the] Internet. The North Street Neighborhood Association is a new community organization devoted to maintaining the quality of life in the North Street area, according to its Web […]

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Living City Properties Buys 26-28 Northern Avenue; Link to Kohl?

Today’s Gazette reports the following property transfer: Gabriele Lavallee, Gabrielle Lavallee, Roger Lavallee Attorney-in-fact, Roland Lavallee, Roland L. Lavallee, Living City Properties Inc., 26-28 Northern Ave., $315,000. Business West provides the following information about Living City Properties, a recent incorporation: Living City Properties Inc., 150 Main St., Suite 310, Northampton 01060. T. Wilson Flanders, 7 […]

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In Memory of Lady Bird Johnson, Conservationist

We salute Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007), one of the leading conservationists of our time. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center tells the story… Mrs. Johnson was First Lady of the nation before she was able to translate her love for the land into national policy. Once started, she has amassed a lifetime of achievement as […]

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1991: Zoning Board of Appeals Member Vetoes Proposed Multi-Family Project as Out Of Character for Woodmont Road Environs

In 1991, Northampton’s Zoning Board of Appeals shot down a three-unit apartment house proposed for Woodmont Road as out of character for the area. The Gazette reported the story in “Zoning board rejects permit for Woodmont Road apartment”: Residents of the neighborhood cheered when the zoning board of appeals rejected a Holyoke construction company’s application […]

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Kohl Construction’s Wetlands Application

Here for your reference is Kohl Construction’s Wetlands Application (PDF) relating to its proposed condos behind North Street. Kohl is doing this project under the business names Northern Avenue Homes, Inc. and Tofino Associates, Inc. In the application, Kohl asserts there are no existing or potential vernal pools on the development site. Below are the […]

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The Sustainability Plan: Infill, Forests, Wetlands and Whom to Email

Northampton’s Planning Board will hold two two-hour workshops to review the Sustainability Plan (PDF) on August 9 and 16. The public is encouraged to send comments to sustainablenorthampton@cecilgroup.com. Here are several passages of particular interest from the plan, with emphasis added. The plan’s authors have anticipated that infill might not be popular with neighboring residents. […]

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