The Pioneer Valley Guildhouse and Michael Bardsley, Northampton City Councilor-at-Large, are sponsoring a second General Public Forum as a follow up to a similar event held at the Florence civic center January, which had an attendance of 25 people. This second forum will take place at the Jackson Street School on Tuesday, April 29, from […]
Continue reading April 29, 6pm: General Public Forum at Jackson Street School
Home sales and prices continue to fall in Pioneer Valley, reports today’s Springfield Republican. In Hampshire County, 151 homes sold in the first quarter of 2008, down 21% from the first quarter of 2007. The median sales price slipped from $259,000 to $249,000. The median sales price of homes in the Pioneer Valley fell 4.9 […]
Continue reading Springfield Republican: Hampshire County Home Sales Fall 21% in Q1
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 […]
Continue reading Mike Kirby: “Where Can You Buy a Crack Pipe?”
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 […]
Continue reading Photo Essay: Arbor Day and the North Street Woods
It is our pleasure to publicize these announcements from the Ward Three Neighborhood Association… Water, Water Everywhere A forum on water issues in Northampton JFK Middle School Community Room 100 Bridge Road, Florence Thursday, May 15th 6:30-8:30 pm Free and Open to the Public The Northampton Department of Public Works and the Ward Three Neighborhood […]
Continue reading Water, Water Everywhere: A Forum on Water Issues in Northampton, May 15
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 […]
Continue reading USA Today: “Push for urban parkland takes root”
Today’s Gazette includes an AP report on the kind of smart growth we think is great: brownfields revitalization. Reusing buildings and paved areas, as opposed to knocking down urban trees and encroaching on wetlands, is infilling the right way. “‘Brownfields’ law altering landscape” …Back in the early 1990s, the state was faced with a backlog […]
Continue reading Gazette: “‘Brownfields’ law altering landscape”
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 […]
Continue reading City Council and Planning Board Proceed Cautiously on Rezoning Committee
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 […]
Continue reading Gazette: “Changes predicted for Connecticut River”
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, […]