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 […]
Trees
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 […]
Gazette: “Changes predicted for Connecticut River”
An article in the April 10 Gazette suggests that trees and wetlands will be increasingly important in the years ahead to moderate wet and dry periods and preserve water quality in the Connecticut River watershed… Changes predicted for Connecticut River “…Typically, we see precipitation held as snow throughout much of New England in winter, and […]
Gazette Guest Column: “The luxury of saving a single tree”
We enjoyed Chivas Sandage’s guest column in the March 15-16 Gazette. She writes: The luxury of saving a single tree …Through the years I’ve had relationships with several remarkable trees, green spaces and wooded areas. Fascinated by Julia Hill-Butterfly, I followed her work closely for years. In recent years, I had the chance to write […]
News Coverage of Lawsuit vs. Kohl Construction
Here are excerpts from local newspaper reports on the lawsuit between Kohl Construction and several abutters in the North Street neighborhood. The abutters dispute Kohl’s title and rights-of-way in portions of his land between North Street and the new bike trail… The Republican, “Residents fight condo project”, 3/14/08 Kohl’s project was a frequent reference point […]
Photo Essay: 10 Reasons People Like Trees Around Them; Will the Sustainable Northampton Plan Put Urban Trees at Risk?
In Livable Streets, Donald Appleyard lists 10 reasons people like trees on their street (p.66). We’ve woven those reasons around some new pictures of the trees around North Street and the woods behind…1. They provide shade.2. They make the street more alive by their movement and richness.3. They are soothing to the eyes.4. They purify the […]
Northampton: Dr. Rutherford Platt to Speak on The Humane Metropolis, March 9
We are pleased to publicize the following announcement: The Environment Task Force of the Hampshire Interfaith Council is pleased to presentThe Humane Metropolis–People and Nature in the 21st Century CityAn illustrated talk byRutherford H. PlattSunday, March 9, at 7 p.m.Edwards Church299 Main Street at corner of Main and StateNorthampton, MADr. Platt is professor of geography […]
Downtown house on “dead end street” in “rural setting” flies off market
The Gazette reports that residential real estate sales in Northampton are slow, but you wouldn’t know it if you were the seller of a certain single-family house on Bradford Street. According to the Multiple Listing Service, this home went on sale on February 8 and is now under agreement, just 12 days later. What makes it […]
Scientists Assist Efforts to Build Urban Tree Canopy
Scientists at the University of Vermont are helping cities measure and increase their tree canopies, AP reports today: “The benefits [of urban trees] are many. First, there’s the environmental. Trees cool things. They remove particulates in the air. They’re linked to mitigating storm water flows, which is an enormous problem in all urban areas because […]
Snow and Slush Expose Limits of Storm Drains
If infill is to mean adding more impervious surface to the already built-up areas of Northampton, this will increase pressure on our man-made stormwater drainage system. The limits of this system were on display this week, as snow, sleet and nearly 3 inches of rain came to Pioneer Valley. Today’s Gazette reports: Water, water everywhere […]