Supreme Judicial Court for Massachusetts Denies Kohl Construction’s Application for Further Appellate Review

With this brief email message, the state’s Supreme Judicial Court declined to review decisions by Land Court and the Appeals Court against Kohl Construction and its affiliates. Kohl desired to use a private driveway owned by others to provide access to a portion of a condo project proposed off of North Street. Subject: FAR-22301 – Notice: […]

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Appeals Court Affirms Land Court Decision Against Kohl Construction

NSNA is pleased to announce that the Appeals Court of Massachusetts has affirmed an earlier decision by Land Court against Kohl Construction and its affiliates. The developer sought to access Units 13-18 of its proposed condos off North Street via a shared private driveway. Land Court ruled that Kohl Construction may not do this without […]

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Breaking News: Land Court Rules in Favor of North Street Plaintiffs

On October 22, 2012, the Chief Justice of the Land Court, Karen F. Scheier, issued a Decision in favor of the Plaintiffs in the case of Elizabeth C. Waldron, et al. v. Northern Avenue Homes, Inc., et al., 08 MISC 374551 (KFS). The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit questioned whether Northern Avenue Homes, Inc., and Living […]

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BEAT Gets State To Update Its Stormwater Calculations

Good news from Berkshire Environmental Action Team: Our climate is changing. There really isn’t any debate in the scientific community anymore. The scientific community has moved on to solving the problem of what do we do about climate change. One thing we can do is change our preparedness for more intense storms and heavier rainfall. […]

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Homes Built on Slabs Less Safe in Tornadoes

The Kohl Construction condo proposal for the North Street woods calls for siting the buildings on slabs – no basements. We’ve objected to this on the grounds that slab homes tend to be less durable, less energy efficient, and more susceptible to flood damage than homes with basements. Slab homes would also be out of character with the […]

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“UMass geologists: New England may be facing higher risk of flooding as groundwater levels rise”

Yesterday’s Springfield Republican reports on work by geologists at the University of Massachusetts: The study was authored by David F. Boutt, a hydrogeologist and assistant professor, and Kaitlyn M. Weider, a graduate student in geology… “More precipitation is falling as rain and less as snow with average annual precipitation displaying a gradual increase of 5 […]

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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 […]

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Developer Douglas Kohl of Northampton dies after liver transplant surgery

The Gazette reports today on its website: Area businessman and developer Douglas Kohl died Wednesday, according to email messages circulated by relatives and friends. Kohl, 51, of Summer Street in Northampton, experienced complications after receiving a new liver in a transplant performed at a New York City hospital. Continues

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Video: Planning Board Discusses Kohl Change to View Avenue; Home Office Permitting; Soccer at Oxbow

Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 8/12/10 meeting of Northampton’s Planning Board. The board approved a change to View Avenue so that a neighbor to the proposed Kohl Construction condo development can still park two cars on View while allowing more room for traffic (see details in PDF, 2.8MB). The overall fate of the development is still on hold […]

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Christian Science Monitor: “How to plan better for New England floods”

The April 3 Christian Science Monitor uses the occasion of the recent flooding along the New England coast to look at climate trends: How to plan better for New England floods   As flood waters recede in rain-soaked New England, March’s record-smashing storms highlight the need for planners in the region to place an increased emphasis […]

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