Coming soon to downtown Amherst?
I was one of 106 recipients -- a virtual who's who of Amherst committee members, town and state officials, journalists, developers, landlords and business owners -- to receive this email from David Willliams on Sunday.
It has come to our attention that Landmark Properties has represented to property owners near our Kendrick Place project in Downtown that they have purchased the land/project from us.
This email is to confirm that this is completely false It is dishonest and it completely conflicts with our long term commitment to our hometown Amherst.
To the contrary, for our Kendrick Place project we are proceeding with selection of a contractor, we have secured LOCAL equity, and we are finalizing terms with a LOCAL bank.
I've lived in Amherst for 44 years. I am not interested in flipping any of my projects to outside developers.
On the contrary, Kyle and I are working very hard to deliver projects of the absolute highest quality, projects that further the objectives of the town and our higher education institutions, projects we will own for the long term, projects that you have given us the approvals to build.
I in no way will breach your trust.
David Williams
My initial reaction? Yikes!
Because if Landmark Properties, an out-of-town developer, had indeed lied in an attempt to gain a negotiation advantage it would certainly cast a pall on their other controversial proposed development, The Retreat (170 units) in Northeast Amherst.
And since there are a boatload of NIMBYs hoping for them to fail at that proposed development this act of treachery would be well received -- and instantly promoted.
One of the major properties sought after by Landmark Properties
Landmark is actively pursuing a five-story, 100-150 unit major development in town center (a little smaller than "The Standard at Athens") and indeed has signed a Letter Of Intent with a large commercial property owner at the north end of town center.
And they did indeed contact Archipelago Investments LLC about adding the proposed Kendrick Place site to the mix.
Another major property sought by Landmark Properties
But they sternly deny ever misrepresenting ownership of any property in Amherst. Obviously if Landmark follows through with this project it will be a major competitor to not only the proposed Kendrick Place (26 units) but Archipelago's other proposed development, Olympia Place (200 beds).
Kendrick Place proposed site abutting the rear of Bertucci's
At the very least, having housing developers fighting with each other to develope projects means the #1 problem in our little "college town" -- the housing shortage -- is, finally, being addressed.
Adjacent Carriage Shops possibly up for grabs
44 comments:
Not exactly Larry. Being addressed? No, it's being looked at by developers. Being addressed means the Town Council is actively looking to build and accepting. Big difference. And now that the N Amherst vultures have something to nibble on they will say anything they can beyond their attempt to say the retreat would hurt the children.
Last I knew there was no parking plan for Kendrick Place what a mess that will be.
What's interesting is that a lot of commercial property is being cleared statewide for housing developments -- statewide.
In Eastern Massachusetts, I know of both a lumber & masonry supply and an auto junkyard -- both long-established business on land they've owned for decades -- are going out of business to clear the spot for housing.
In both cases, it's location -- once undesirable industrial land that has now become prime residential real estate -- and the best example of this is a just-abandoned railyard in the Alston section of Boston.
Like Amherst Farmer's supply and the Hadley Garden Center, the Melrose lumber/masonry supply was built next to a rail line back when the stuff they sold arrived by rail, in this case what was once the main B&M line to Maine. It's now the MBTA's Haverhill Commuter Rail line, across the street from a station, and a prime location for assisted elderly housing.
The junkyard is on a navigational inlet of the Atlantic Ocean -- in Lynn. Now that some quite ugly high tension powerlines have been put underground, there are serious proposals to develop a lot of that shoreline for housing - the old Building 19 7/8 site, located on the other side of the GE Jet Engine factory, is yet another example.
I don't know where all this money is coming from, or if this is yet another housing bubble which will also burst, but there is a LOT of this happening in Massachusetts right now.
That artist rendering would still be better looking that that monstrosity they put above Judie's.
Rumor has it that the Amherst Carriage Shops is to be torn down for a residential project.
Yeah, I think this same project.
And it isn't like we will need any more public safety personnel.
The only thing I'd worry about is the financing being stable enough to finish the project.
If this is a speculative bubble, if it is based on tax credits that may change when BHO is out of office in 2 years, or on FED money policies that could also change, or interest rates that could increase, the town could wind up with a bankrupt developer and someone else taking a half-finished development and doing something completely different from what was originally intended/envisioned.
The Southpoint and Boulders Apartment Complexes are quite a bit different from what Brittany Manor was envisioned as being back in 1974 -- and I know of worse examples elsewhere.
I believe the former Filene's store is *STILL* a big hole in the ground -- and what was never anticipated in the early 1960's, with either urban renewal or the plans for the UM campus -- was that the development money (and in the case of UM, yield on bond issues) wouldn't be anywhere near what it had anticipated to be.
T-3 wasn't built because they didn't have the money, not because it fell down...
Doubt it. Carriage Shops is a bunch of office condos with lots of different owners.
A virtual who's who of humility.
What would happen to all the business places being displaced? Are condo owners being forced out?
Just to clarify that the picture Larry posted is a Landmark project in Athens, GA. It's not what they are proposing for Amherst.
Poor saps, they bought condo thinking that they actually owned something. Now Jerry Gates can sell them down the river as the majority owner.
I was one of the “Stupid 100” on DW’s email list. I found it typical and pathetic that DW, a wealthy two-faced part-time Amherst/part-time Greenwich CT developer (ie half local) who uses out-of-town architects and out-of-town builders and mostly out-of-town materials to build out-of-character and out-of-scale monstrosities, would position his own as local projects and then without attribution or justification of any kind maliciously broadcast damaging accusations about his only competition to the media, state reps, and town players. What DW caused to appear in today’s paper and Larry’s blog not only ingeniously served to decimate his only development competition in town, but it also cleverly will clear out all his coveted buildings of now nervous tenants who would hold up his planned projects. There’s room for more than one player in town. When developers compete (and when some hire local trades) we win.
I actually like the looks of that building and think it would look great at the triangle st spot extending to the Carriage Shops. That would be a massive project,and if it incorporated the existing businesses would be good for downtown Amherst. Amherst commercial area is dying no matter how hard they try to sell it as a vibrant area. It needs new life and energy.
Amherst commercial are is dying, that's why it's so hard to find a rentable storefront. Someone forgot to tell all the tenants.
Yes but what is the turnover rate? How many shops have come and gone in the last 10 years? What is the mix of businesses? A food court doesn't make a vibrant downtown shopping district. When the Carriage Shops get torn down there will be less businesses.
Bart's is still closed and is advertising it's sale. Loose Goose has been advertising it's for sale. I see for rent signs at Kamens,2nd and third floor of the Michaelson building,the Deangelo building has been empty for a long time,Molti spot is for rent and when the Carriage shops goes there will be more closings.
Bart's is owned by the landlord. Moti is moving around the corner. D'Angelo's owns the building and hasn't been interested in renting it.
AJ Hastings, Amherst Books, Fresh Side Cafe, Amherst Music House, Zanna, Judie's, Black Sheep, Amherst Chinese, Paradise of India, Mercantile, The Pub, The Sub, Copy Cat, Panda East are all still going strong.
So if Bart's is owned by the landlord why isn't it opened in vibrant downtown Amherst,especially if he gets a deal on the rent? It should be doing better with the cluster of food places. Why does Food for Thought and Amherst Cinema need to ask for donations to survive in vibrant downtown Amherst?
I'm guessing that since Amherst doesn't like business' or want business' in downtown that eventually the illustration that adorns this post will more than likely be what downtown Amherst looks like.
You forgot Antonio's, R&P, Amherst Wines & Spirits, The Optical Shop, Amherst Barber Shop, Hair by Harlow, Brueger's Bagels, Hair East, Chez Albert, Bertucci's, and I'm sure there are more.
As a landlord downtown I've been pleased to have full occupancy throughout the recession. This was not the case with my properties in Greenfield, Springfield and Northampton. Now that business has picked up, one of my prime retail tenants in Amherst has asked for a lease extension of 15 years. I think the main issue the town needs to tackle is additional parking, as we have lots of people that want to come to Amherst. They just need more places to park.
You assume they are going strong. Many that you mentioned are marginal. Did you ever speak to the owners? If Amherst is so vibrant why did Silverscape and Michaelsons pull out when they owned the building and had rental income? Why did the chamber head close his business? Nobody closes a profitable business.
The Lumberyard Restaurant in the building you are referring to is doing great. Both Silverscape and Michaelson had larger storefronts in Northampton. However, both their Amherst locations are filled with other tenants. Oriental Flavor is doing very well. Businesses turn over in the course of the normal business cycle. People retire, get bored, and in some cases have marginal businesses. It's the same for every town. If you are expecting to see the same businesses we had in 1980 it's unrealistic. Take Northampton, where are McCrory's, Woolworth, Ann August, Pleasant Street Video, Pleasant Street Theater, Sears, Ted's Bootery, and Country Deli to name a few.
Anyone that thinks downtown Amherst is "going strong" ought to share some of whatever you are drinking.
Just keep telling yourself that. Note that this post is about 2 developers battling to build downtown. I guess they're not as smart as you.
Everyone wants to see more vibrant retail in downtown Amherst. And the residential density being proposed by Archipelago and Landmark is exactly what will achieve our goals of successful and diverse shops and services.
There aren’t enough customers to justify more retail in downtown Amherst today. Tomorrow, with the proposed increase in residents, there will be.
There are so many benefits to community support of residential density in downtowns: Tax base improvement; housing diversity; vibrant places to live/work/play; and less demand on open space conversion.
I hope everyone who has recognized the great opportunities Amherst has to offer will work together to build the community we desire.
The stores you mentioned fron Northampton were around for many years some for over 50 years. in Amherst the turnover rate is very high. No business lasts forever eventually everything has a life span. Yes the developers are very very smart as witnessed from the S&L crises of the 80's. They create separate corporations for each of their projects. If it is successful they win if it is a loser they walk and the bank loses. Some developers in this area have filed bankruptcy several times. Yes very smart indeed.
Don't kid yourself. The local banks don't finance on that basis. Commercial loans are not like home loans. Whenever I've built or bought anything I've had to put up lots of collateral.
Don't waste your breath Jedi. The anti-business sentiment is strong in this one.
This project is not clear to me. Is this 3 separate projects, Williams, Landmark,and Gates?
Two seporate projects, Landmark and Williams. Gates is going to sell The Carriage Shops to one or the other.
Teds boot is still going strong last I checked in NoHo. In fact for two towns that are of similar size by census NoHo is doing just fine with more shops and restaurants. I think this proves the point that a large undergrad student population does not bring in the $$ a town needs to thrive. Amherst really needs to rethink its demographic to figure out what to do with itself. No small task, with no clear answers. Though more obvious parking like Noho would be a great start. Especially when you don't have to worry about running back to your car.
I think we have two different perspectives here. If you are a landlord and have high occupancy with high rents the downtown appears vibrant and successful. If you are a tenant struggling to pay bills and make a living things are not so wonderful.
In a town where the government and those with money buy up every piece of parcel they can so no one moves here, builds here, or lives here, the real question is just how much commerce can the town handle. Spend any day downtown and it's a ghost town for the most part. There seems to be an illusion that Amherst needs to grow, or is growing. Amherst doesn't want to grow.
Cinda has it right sort of... "Everyone wants to see more vibrant retail in downtown Amherst".
Everyone except the old-school that wants Amherst to be ready when Emily Dickinson's ghost comes back to visit. Unfortunately they control the cards.
Enjoy the last of available parcels to build on in Amherst aka downtown and the Cowl's land if anyone dare take a very risky chance on building in an area that traditionally hates commerce and isn't much fun or easy to get to. And what will all the residential properties bring in terms of commerce? Nothing, they'll be no room for commerce in Amherst except a sprinkling of stores here and there. Amherst idea of urban renewal was to build a parking lot that makes it harder to park in Amherst. Luckily Hadley is a stones throw away.
Amherst could be the progressive, modern, fun place to visit and it should by most everyone's account. But the powers that be like Amherst to live in the dark ages and the residents to all maintain a Stepford Wives decorum.
This can go on endlessly. I will just point out that Scandihoovians chose to come back to Amherst. Retailers, be they restaurants, clothing, etc., that market aggressively, change to reflect changing tastes, and have smart management, do well. Take Judie's or Zanna. Neither looks like they did 30 years ago. In both cases they have invested to keep their businesses fresh. If you have a business that has the same carpet or flooring, wall decor, lighting, and merchandise you had when you opened 20-30 years ago, you aren't going to make it in Northampton any better than Amherst. Just my opinion, but if you look at the successful businesses over the long term, it's not just about rent. It's about putting energy into your business. When business people start becoming absentee business owners they usually go down hill. Nobody cares about your business as much as you do. That's why you still see Judy at her restaurant every day.
And Ed asks what will happen when UMass doesn't have the bodies it does now -- and I don't believe it always will. It is way too expensive and way too problematic to essentially confine kids to a place in the middle of nowhere.
Not when they can live in their own communities and get as good (if not better) college education. People are seriously talking about the 6-year high school now -- what would UM become in a Commonwealth where there were no Freshmen & Sophomores anymore???
Ed,
As Chanel #5 says "Share the fantasy."
Hey Larry, how come all the pictures are from the winter of 1964? Wait, that's Amherst today isn't it. Nevermind.
You've got to love Cinda's optimism.
But then you've got to watch Town Meeting, and revise your expectations.
Just how many times can we pay attention to one man's death wish about the town of Amherst?
I don't read him any more.
More parking? Hell-no, Amherst Center needs a heliport!
Post a Comment