To a crowded June 2 audience in City Council Chambers, Professor Philip Bess from the Notre Dame School of Architecture offered an urban design studio to Northampton. Effectively, the studio would help visualize some of the concepts in the Sustainable Northampton Plan, such as compact, mixed-use development. The components of the studio would be an […]
Neighborhood Character
Daughters of the American Revolution Seek Help for 1753 House on South Street
It is our pleasure to publicize this appeal from the Daughters of the American Revolution. They need your help to preserve their landmark pre-revolutionary house on South Street. WE NEED YOUR HELP! THE DAR HOUSE built in 1753 is a standing monument in the South Street Neighborhood. It is seen every day by hundreds of […]
Condo Monotony: The Future of Ward 3?
At the February 7 meeting of Northampton’s planning board, one member characterized as “carbuncles” condo developments that integrate poorly with their surrounding neighborhoods. Let’s take a look at the characteristics of some attractive streets with detached houses in the North Street neighborhood, and then contrast them with three carbuncle candidates–two built and one proposed. Trees […]
Memorial Day Ceremony at Bridge Street Cemetery: Pictures and Video
At 8:30am today, members of the public gathered in Civil War dress to commemorate our war dead at Bridge Street Cemetery. After a brief eulogy, guns and cannon fired, and Taps was played. We offer this two-minute Google video in appreciation, with pictures following. See also: Northampton Redoubt: Memorial Day tributes TapsBugler.com: History of TapsAs […]
Mike Kirby: “The Fire at Augie’s”
Mike Kirby, former city councilor, has just published another great article on Kirby on the Loose. He fills in the larger story behind the recent fire at 11 Bridge Street, and we are reprinting it here with his kind permission: The Fire at Augie’s When all is said and done, we were very lucky with […]
An Update from the Ward Three Neighborhood Association
It’s our pleasure to pass along this update from the Ward Three Neighborhood Association. As you can see, major issues are facing our ward. Citizen input is welcome. Re: Update on Our Activities From: Jerry Budgar, President This has been an extremely busy year for your Association, and we’ve been discussing a wide spectrum of […]
June 14: Ward Three Strawberry and Lemonade Afternoon Social and Bridge Street Cemetery Historic Tour
It is our pleasure to publicize this announcement from the Ward Three Neighborhood Association. Visit their website at http://www.wardthree.com/ The Ward Three Neighborhood Association Invites you to a Strawberry and Lemonade Afternoon Social and a Bridge Street Cemetery Historic Tour Led by Historic Northampton Saturday, June 14, 2008 2-5pm (Rain date: Sunday, June 15, 2008) […]
New York Times: Downsides of Owning a Condo in a Downturn
Condo ownership presents some special hazards during an economic downturn. Even you personally are solvent, your fellow condo owners might not be. Today’s New York Times reports: Collateral Foreclosure Damage for Condo Owners When people buy condos, they expect their monthly fees will cover many of the responsibilities that they would otherwise have as owners […]
Portland: A Photo Tour of Spiraling Densification
Randal O’Toole of the Thoreau Institute most kindly assembled a photo tour of Portland, Oregon for us. For a generation Portland has been a stronghold of Smart Growth planning. Mr. O’Toole provides the following narrative: What we see happening is that planners are never satisfied — let them densify you a little bit, and they […]
May 8: Planning Board Revisits Sustainable Northampton; Green Roofs = Open Space?
Concerned citizens are urged to attend the May 8 meeting of Northampton’s Planning Board. Among other things, it looks like green roofs may be classified as “open space”. In effect, this implies some open space will become privatized, as the public may not have access to these green roofs… NORTHAMPTON PUBLIC MEETING FOR Thursday May […]