Here are YouTube videos from the first day (3/14/11) of the Nelson\Nygaard transportation charrette focused on Main Street and King Street in Northampton. These videos were recorded by Adam Cohen. The consultants’ overarching philosophy is informed by New Urbanism and makes a priority of building mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly urban environments. It is reminiscent of proposals made during the Notre […]
Photos: Smith College Spring Bulb Show
The Smith College Spring Bulb Show runs through March 20, 10am-4pm daily. Smith College Bulb Show March 2011 Photos by Adam Cohen
Videos: Solid Waste Forum of March 11, 2011
Here are two YouTube videos covering the complete Solid Waste Task Force public forum of 3/11/11. The first segment shows the Task Force’s presentation of solid waste management options (26 minutes). The second segment shows the public’s comments that followed (1 hour 15 minutes). These recordings were made by Adam Cohen. See this article on […]
Photos: Flooding at Three County Fairgrounds
These pictures of flooding by the Three County Fairgrounds were all taken on March 7. The first two show Cross Path Road, temporarily closed by the city. The last shows a pipe discharging water near the intersection of Fair Street and Cross Path Road.See also:Gazette: “Flooding results from rain, snowmelt” (3/8/11)Public Works Director Ned Huntley […]
Photos: North Street Potholes
NSNA went for a walk today and documented the numerous potholes that have sprung up on North Street, from Bates Street all the way down to Market Street. These pictures have been submitted to the Department of Public Works with a request for repair. North Street is slated for reconstruction but it is not yet […]
Video: Mayor Speaks to Ward 4 about Fiscal Situation
Here is a 57-minute YouTube video excerpt from the March 8 meeting of the Ward4Northampton neighborhood association. Mayor Clare Higgins discusses the city’s fiscal situation and other matters, including watershed protection, snow clearing and traffic calming. This video was recorded by Mary Likins.The mayor distributed this handout: Northampton Budget Issues 08 March 2011 Joel Feldman of […]
Video and Slides: Solid Waste Forum of March 7, 2011
Below is a complete blip.tv video of the 3/7/11 public forum held by Northampton’s Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force. The public was invited to express opinions about how the city will manage its waste once the municipal landfill closes in 2012. The Task Force will hold a second and similar forum on March […]
Charter Review Committee Member Marc Warner Issues Minority Report
Shortly after the Charter Review Committee issued its final report to the City Council yesterday, committee member Marc Warner issued a dissenting minority report. Here is an excerpt followed by Mr. Warner’s full report: The nature of the dissent is not about the worthiness of revising the current charter. It does need revisions. Rather, it […]
Charter Review Committee Submits Final Report to City Council
Northampton’s Charter Review Committee held its last meeting on March 2 and submitted its final report today to the City Council (see below). The Committee believes that patching the current charter is inadequate to correct its flaws, and that a new, more modern charter is needed: …the Charter Review Committee recommends a new charter, and a […]
March 14-16: Main and King Street Transportation Charrette
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development announces a Main and King Street Transportation Charrette. As you can see from the articles we include below the announcement, we’re concerned that increasing urban density beyond a certain point could result in unpleasant increases in total downtown Northampton traffic, even if vehicle miles per capita decrease somewhat. We have, of course, expressed other […]