Republican: “Northampton Thornes Marketplace owner Douglas Kohl dies at 51”

The North Street Neighborhood Association is saddened at the passing of Douglas Kohl. We extend our condolences to his family and colleagues. The Republican reports:

Northampton Thornes Marketplace owner Douglas Kohl dies at 51

Douglas A. Kohl, builder, developer, philanthropist and conservationist, died Wednesday at the age of 51…

Kohl was well known as the owner of Thornes Marketplace and other downtown properties as well as the developer of the Pathways and Rocky Hill co-housing projects in Northampton. Friends and colleagues said he was less public about his philanthropic ventures and his commitment to the community he lived in and loved…

He leaves his wife, Rachel Kohl, and their 3-year-old son, Joshua. The family plans to announce a memorial service next week…

One of [Kohl’s projects] is a 20-unit condominium project off North Street that put Kohl at loggerheads with some abutters. Adam Cohen, who has fought the project every step of the way, nonetheless said he was shocked and saddened by Kohl’s passing.

“We certainly disagreed about land use, but he had many fine qualities,” Cohen said.

See also:

Gazette: “Developer Douglas Kohl dies at 51”
Kohl founded Kohl Construction in 1986, making his name first by building high-end homes, then branching into large developments. He oversaw construction of two cohousing communities in Florence, Pathways and Rocky Hill, in 1999 and 2005, as well as the 70-home Amherst Hills in 2004 and the 54-home subdivision called The Oaks in Florence in 2005.

His latest development project was a controversial proposal for 20 condominiums off North Street and View Avenue in Northampton. Although it had city approval, the project was held up by a lawsuit disputing ownership of the land. The matter went to trial in Massachusetts Land Court in July, and a judge is expected to make a ruling in four to six months.

Northampton Media: “Douglas Kohl, Businessman, Developer, Dead at 51”