Our ad in today’s Gazette (5/6/09) describes how Kohl Construction’s proposed condo development off North Street would commit a number of classic urban infill design mistakes. Download this ad as a high-resolution PDF (432 KB). Concerned citizens are urged to attend Conservation Commission and Planning Board hearings on this proposal on May 14 (see flyer, […]
Author: NorthAssocAdmin
Gazette: “Health, fiscal woes seed local vegetable gardens”; Freeman Dyson Sees Future Gold in Green
Today’s Gazette reports that vegetable gardens are even more popular than last year, a good reason not to infill away our urban greenspaces: An estimated 37 percent of all United States households, or about 43 million, plan to grow vegetables, fruit, berries or herbs in 2009, according to the Vermont-based National Gardening Association. That’s up […]
Video: Planning Board Approves North Campus Hospital Hill Subdivision, Denies Dog Kennel Permit on 4/23/09
Here is a blip.tv video from the Northampton Planning Board meeting of 4/23/09. This recording covers the first hour and 25 minutes of the meeting, and was filmed by Lachlan Ziegler. Here are the agenda items covered in the video: 7:00 P.M. Continuation (not previously opened) of a hearing on the request by Hospital Hill […]
USA Today: “Why home values may take decades to recover”
This 12/15/08 article from USA Today argues that today’s home prices are still unsustainably high: Why home values may take decades to recover …”We will never see these prices again in our lifetime, when you adjust for inflation,” says Peter Schiff, president of investment firm Euro Pacific Capital of Darien, Conn. “These were lifetime peaks.” […]
Video: Manhan Rail Trail Hearing of 4/27/09
Here is a complete blip.tv video of MassHighway’s April 27 public hearing on extending the Manhan Rail Trail. This video is 39 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. The public comment period takes up the latter half of the hearing. From the meeting announcement: PURPOSE: The purpose of this hearing is to provide […]
May 6: Zoning Revisions Committee to Discuss Sustainability Plan, Community Involvement
We encourage citizens to attend this meeting on the implementation of the Sustainable Northampton Plan: Zoning Revisions Committee Meeting May 6 Agenda 1st Floor Memorial Hall (old COA space) (enter at side door facing Unitarian Society bldg) 7:00 PM 1. Public comment 2. Discussion with Chris Mason, Northampton energy officer, about green community initiatives3. Discuss […]
THURSDAY: Proposition 2 1/2 Override Public Forum
Ward 4 City Councilor David Narkewicz is circulating the following bulletin today: Proposition 2 1/2 Override Public Forum Thursday, April 30, 2009 7:00 PM JFK Middle School Community Room Please join the Mayor, City Council, School Committee and other elected officials for a public forum on the proposed Proposition 2 1/2 ballot question currently under […]
Toronto Urban Design Guidelines: Infill Townhouses
The City of Toronto has compiled design guidelines specifically for infill townhouses (PDF, 34 pages). Let’s explore these guidelines and draw contrasts with the Kohl condo proposal for North Street. We have emphasized certain passages in red. Toronto Urban Design Guidelines:Infill Townhouses January 2003 Page 4: As with any type of infill development, however, it […]
Portland Infill Design Strategies: Best Practices for Context-Sensitive Infill Design
Portland, Oregon has long experience with Smart Growth tracing back to the 1970s. While we’ve been critical of many of the ways Smart Growth has been applied there, the city has amassed a valuable body of knowledge about infill techniques that are relatively gentle on existing neighborhoods. Here are selections from “Infill Design Strategies: Best […]
Wall Street Journal: “How Group Decisions End Up Wrong-Footed”
A 4/25/09 Wall Street Journal article has insights into getting good decisions from groups. It resonates with the goals of the Best Practices Committee. How Group Decisions End Up Wrong-Footed For committees and other boards to work well, they must be made up of people with differing perspectives and experience who are unafraid to speak […]