Randal O’Toole of the Thoreau Institute has kindly allowed us to share his photo tour of Oak Grove, Oregon. Oak Grove, a suburb of Smart Growth stronghold Portland, decided in favor of preserving the pleasant community they knew over gambling on densification. Oak Grove’s population is about 12,800 inhabiting an area of 3.2 square miles […]
Neighborhood Character
U.S. News to Retirees: Choose a locale with plenty of greenspace
Northampton is one of the “best places to retire” according to U.S. News & World Report and Money Magazine. A similar positive citation in the New York Times is mentioned on the City of Northampton website. Retiree in-migration can look attractive to city officials because their households consume a relatively low proportion of city services, […]
Scrape-Off Redevelopments Provoke Backlash in Denver Neighborhoods
The Rocky Mountain News reports how densification has provoked a strong backlash in certain Denver neighborhoods. The focus there is on multifamily dwellings. Just to be clear, the North Street Neighborhood Association has no objection to two- and three-family detached homes, of which there are many in our ward. We are concerned, however, about the […]
LA Weekly: “City Hall’s ‘Density Hawks’ Are Changing L.A.’s DNA
Los Angeles shows what can happen when developers perceive profits in density, public officials egg them on, newspapers are quiescent, and citizens are asleep at the switch. LA Weekly reports: City Hall’s “Density Hawks” Are Changing L.A.’s DNA (2/27/08) …Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavksy…has been staging a one-man campaign to slow City Hall’s feverish […]
Mike Kirby: “Where Can You Buy a Crack Pipe?”
Mike Kirby is a former city councilor who currently authors two blogs, Kirby on the Loose and Doyle’s Progress. He has kindly allowed us to reprint two articles from the former. Whether they be condo developers or convenience store owners, the decisions of private businesspeople affect the quality of life in our neighborhood. Crack is […]
Photo Essay: Arbor Day and the North Street Woods
The Mayor has proclaimed April 25 to be Arbor Day in Northampton. Please enjoy these pictures as spring comes to our North Street woods… See also: Photo Essay: 10 Reasons People Like Trees Around Them; Will the Sustainable Northampton Plan Put Urban Trees at Risk?The environment above faces threats from two directions. First, Kohl Construction proposes […]
USA Today: “Push for urban parkland takes root”
The value of urban parks is ever more appreciated, reports USA Today… “Push for urban parkland takes root” (4/13/08) “We grew so rapidly in the ’80s and ’90s in the rate we were consuming land, people did become alarmed,” says David Goldberg, spokesman for Smart Growth America, a national coalition promoting green space. “This desire […]
City Council and Planning Board Proceed Cautiously on Rezoning Committee
At a special joint meeting on April 17, Northampton’s City Council and Planning Board discussed the composition and mandate of a new Rezoning Committee. This committee would suggest changes to Northampton zoning laws in accordance with the new Sustainable Northampton Plan. After about an hour’s discussion, the participants agreed that an ad hoc committee of […]
April 17, 6pm: Mayor, City Council, and Planning Board to Discuss Sustainable Rezoning Committee
An important public meeting concerning the Sustainable Northampton Plan is on tap for Thursday, 6pm in City Council Chambers (212 Main Street). The Planning Board will meet with the Mayor and City Council to discuss forming a Sustainable Rezoning Committee. This committee would suggest new zoning laws that could change Northampton neighborhoods considerably. In particular, […]
Hula Hoop Break with Megan E. LaBonte
NorthAssoc was treated to an impromptu hula hoop performance on Market Street by Megan E. LaBonte. Megan was practicing to march in the March 30 St. Patrick’s Day parade in Holyoke. Turn the volume down on your computer (the music is loud!) and enjoy (31 seconds)…