We are pleased to relay this announcement from the northamptonward3 Yahoo group:
The Three County Fair Board of Directors has hired Bullock, Smith and Partners [link] to prepare a master plan for redevelopment of the fairgrounds. They will be in Northampton on May 6, 7 & 8 to gather input from stakeholders. There will be an open house for the fair’s neighbors on Wednesday, May 7 at 7 pm in the fair’s administration building on Fair St. We hope that you will be able to attend this meeting and give the designers your thoughts on any problems that you have encountered with the fair, issues that need attention, and your suggestions on the directions the redevelopment project could take.
When the plan is complete late this summer, it will be presented to the neighbors and the public for their response.
If you have any questions, please call Bruce Shallcross, the director of the fair, at 413-584-2237.
See also:
Gazette: “Grant gives Fairgrounds project a boost” (4/28/08)
The redevelopment planning is expected to be finished next year, with construction on the 190-year-old institution to begin in 2010…
The fairgrounds redevelopment includes plans for construction of an 80,000-square-foot, climate-controlled exhibition building that could be used year-round…
The changes would allow the fairgrounds to more than triple, to around 70, the number of events it hosts, such as computer, flower and antique shows, while continuing current offerings like horse shows.
Plans also call for including indoor soccer leagues, Beck said.
A feasibility study estimated that the updated fairgrounds would generate $49 million each year in direct and indirect spending, which represents a $30 million increase in tourism dollars over current figures.