Vince O'Connor firing shots at 1 East Pleasant Street mixed use development
As the 51st anniversary of that exceedingly sad day in American history fast approaches I can't help but be reminded of his two indelible quotes our Planning Board should forever adopt as their motto: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
In the spirit of amending a zoning article on the floor of Amherst Town Meeting I would strike out the
And the other one, President Kennedy borrowed from a New England Chamber of Commerce: "A rising tide lifts all boats."
In Amherst, like a lot of college towns, we have a housing shortage. Across the entire spectrum of the housing market, we simply need more: affordable housing (low income), handicapped housing, middle-income family housing, student housing, and yes, even high-end rich people housing.
So when a development comes along, like 1 East Pleasant Street, that plans to add 84 vitally needed units targeting one or two of those demographics (student housing and/or high end expensive housing), then that rising tide helps every facet of the market by soaking up a chunk of the demand.
1 East Pleasant Street
And as supply catches up with demand, prices could start to come down.
Last night's Planning Board Site Plan Approval hearing for 1 East Pleasant Street -- the 4th session of its kind -- still did not end in a decision. The Historical Commission meets tonight with a discussion about the historic mural that will be repainted by the original artist on the new building.
West Cemetery Mural will be repainted on new building by David Fichter
But that is not expected to be a deal killer as Archipelego Investments is wise enough to know what matters in Amherst. That's the kind of responsiveness these two developers have brought to this proposal, and I'm sure will continue to bring to this endeavor even after it opens for business two years from now.
Kyle Wilson (standing), Dave Williams (seated)
NIMBYs in the audience had dwindled by more than half since the 1st hearing (10/1), but still took pot shots at the project. Even forever activist Vince O'Connor sounded half hearted with his request for the Planning Board to deny the "unrealistic proposal" because of a lack of parking.
The Planning Board continued the public hearing to December 3rd, for a 5th and final meeting.
26 comments:
The difference between now and a half century ago is that it meant something to be an American back then. Now -- it doesn't....
Back then, the concept of "Civil Rights" was that every American had certain inalienable rights that ought not be violated -- and racism & sexism were wrong because they were violations of the rights of Americans who just happened to be different in one way or another.
Now we have Carolyn Gardner -- whom we have ONLY heard of because of her membership in protected groups. Her group identity in our new caste system.
When Richard Milhouse Nixon went into Cambodia, something quite unpopular and legally questionable, the nation exploded. (That's what participated the protest that led to the Kent State shootings.)
Last night, Barrack Hussein Obama did something every bit as egregious -- and Heaven forbid that anyone dare say a critical word about it. We are no longer collectively "Americans" where it means something to be an American. And the same thing is true relative to the subsidiary political subdivisions.
It's no longer "Our Town" in a collective sense -- instead it's now "us" versus "them" and your group benefiting at the expense of others. Never forget that some people profit from the current housing shortage, and that's what it's all about...
I have said it before and I'll say it again they ain't Makin Dems like Jack anymore.
"I have said it before and I'll say it again they ain't Makin Dems like Jack anymore."
I refer to the "Trade Union Democrat" -- people who were either tradesmen themselves or whose parents/grandparents had been.
Catholics of European ancestry -- which JFK was -- but identifying as Americans.
For all the fireworks involving the GOP, it is the Democratic Party that has been more successful in it's purge attempts and Jack's party doesn't exist anymore...
This is not the place for a housing project. There will be a parking problem for residents and shoppers. This will discourage shopping in downtown Amherst. This is what the Planning Board needs to address that's why they are called a planning board. They are in Go mode from the very start and should also consider the esthetics of the project. The developers say the residents will not have cars,they will say what ever it takes.
Let us not stop progress..the center of this town sorely needs updating. This project is a help, not a hindrance. Stop the pervasive NIMBY and stick in the mud attitudes that permeate these hearings. Let them have their ten minutes…then build the damn thing.
Let our downtown be a DRAW not a collection of dilapidated and outdated buildings. Hamp got it right by taking a risk…so shall we.
"Let them have their 10 minutes then build the thing". That's what exactly is happening and that is exactly what the problem is.
@113: Where do the people think they $ comes from? I am sick of my property taxes going up up and away!! I am also sick of spending my cash in Hadley as there are so few business here that can support the needs of my family. My pocketbook isn't so big that I can pay the Amherst retail markup and make my family go forward. We need business, additional housing, we need to diversify income. Some residents have the audacity to think that they can stop someone who paid the freight on something…what you all do is make it so unpleasant to try something new here (business wise) that seldom do they survive. Those that do suffer and some just leave for greener pastures. Not a good business model. Let them build I say..
This is a residential building mainly for students. It has very little retail space and is in fact displacing and closing many long time businesses. I highly doubt this building is going to lower your property taxes. You will have to continue spending your cash in Hadley because you won't be able to find a place to park in downtown Amherst. In fact if you want lower taxes you might want to consider moving to Hadley.
The BID and almost all* downtown businesses support this building as it will provide foot traffic and downtown residents.
*the son of some outspoken Amherst slumlords did speak against it out of self interest for his parents' substandard rentals as they cannot compete with modern, new apartments
"Almost all downtown business support this."Another blatant lie I do not know of any poll taken and I defy you to take a poll and post the results. Who is the BID? Mostly the few downtown property owners who own all the real estate. The BID is a joke like the Camber.
The co-owner of Hastings spoke emphatically in favor of the project at the last PB meeting. Despite just celebrating their 100th anniversary business is NOT thriving. I believe the owner of Black Sheep Deli has spoken in favor, as well. Neither of these folks own half the town. They are long standing, well respected, local business people fighting the good fight to stay in business. We need more people living and spending their time and money in the downtown. This project will bring them.
Typical response anon 225pm, if you don't like it, move. How about the fact that the poster you referenced WANTS to spend their cash in Amherst but the town doesn't support the business? More people living in walking distance of downtown (students or not) means that money will be spent here.
The carriage shops are a BLIGHT to the downtown. Ugly, ineffective with lots to turn over. Parking will be the next big issue. Why not build a proper parking garage? Plenty of places where a 2/3 story garage would be "out of sight". Dig down 1 level and put 3 atop and BOOM…people MAY come.
This will be resolved in court and Archipelago is going to lose. If One East Pleasant Street was what it is purported to be - housing for retirees, families and professionals as we'll as for students with sufficient parking -- there would be no issue. No one thinks the Carriage Shops should remain. And it's not a NIMBY issue. No one lives downtown. Archipelago and the current town governance is going to lose because they are lying. One East Pleasant is a dorm with inadequate parking which will detract from downtown. It is built on loopholes, on arguments which don't pass muster. It will lose because the town attorney split hairs where there are no hairs, because the Town Manager has overreached, trying to dictate and advocate policy when he is only empowered to implement policy, because the head of the Planning Board is making decisions based on discussions with his kids, not on common sense. It will lose and then heads will roll. It didn't have to be this way. Musante, the PB and Archipelago only have themselves to blame.
I don't think the Carraiage Shops are a blight. Many of the shops were there years and were there longer than most shops on Main St.; The Loose Goose,Amherst Wine and Spirits, Creative Needle,Amherst Music,Kay Baker Antiques,Kolcot Hair. If you want to replace the Carriage Shops with a galleria type indoor mall akin to Thornes in Northampton fine. But a downtown dorm will suck the life out of this community and will be a big mistake. I don't think people outside the area will flock to Amherst to shop because of this project. This project will do nothing for the downtown and only serves to line the pockets of Archipelago.
The owners of the Carriage Shops and many of the business owners there think, themselves, that the buildings have outlived their usefulness. Many repairs are needed that are not worth the money it would cost to undertake.
If you, anon. 10:10, don't think the Carriage Shops are a blight and disagree with the current owners that they are not worth investing in as is, why don't you take out a several million dollar loan and purchase them yourself? Or, ban together with the many other "Save Amherst" folks and take out a joint loan? Or, find a like minded investor willing to take on the millions of dollars of debt that the current investors are--in order to create the kind of development you think would better serve the community?
Too risky???? Perhaps not enough obvious upside financially???? It's easy to criticize those willing to invest in our community as just being out to "line their pockets", but what is totally absent from that view is an acknowledgement of the risk (or cost) they are taking on--and what it will take to recoup that cost. Personally, I'm appreciative of their efforts to seize the opportunity before them to build very needed housing (regardless of what demographic it will serve) and, in the process, breathe some vitality into our downtown.
Check out the video for the last meeting, where someone says to Williams and/or Wilson at the end of the hearing:
"Thank you for saving downtown"
I agree
Again more lies. Firstly most of the owners didn't want to sell ,they were forced out. In the condo contract was a Claus that if the majority owner wanted to sell the others had to give up their purchased spaces. After Gates obtained Rithcies building and the Loose Goose who who trying to sell their business agreed to sell, the ball was in motion. The Carriage Shops are actually newer than most of the buildings downtown and is a lie that it needs to be replaced. All the lies like the residence don't need parking and that this project will stimulate business downtown and the Carriage Shops are ready to be condemned are a ploy to get the town and planning board in line that this project needs to be done. I doubt the developers are risking their capital about altruism of Amherst. It's all about the money and not how it effects the people of the town.
Personally, I kind of already miss Amherst Music. Steve, youRe one of the greats. Thanks for everything.
Hey Anon 823am-
Is that the same video in which David Webber admitted he was making decisions on parking based on an article he couldn't remember and discussions with his children? The same video in which the rest of the knuckleheads on the Planning Board declared themselves to be experts on the driving habits of the next generation based on a chapter in a book? A book on cities, no less. Archipelago could have changed its floor plans but obviously feels that it has this town in its pocket so it doesn't have to do damn thing in face of overwhelming citizen sentiment. The question is what do they know that we don't that allows them to act so arrogantly?
12:06
I think that "cities" is an umbrella term for "communities". Otherwise, most New Englanders would never be able to fill out one of those forms that asks for our "city and state".
The corollary question is: where is your evidence that the new building will be occupied by car-driving, Clockwork-Orange-like thugs?
--a Knucklehead
I should like to...Smash 'em!
Surprise! Surprise! The downtown businesses are not lining up to oppose this project.... quite the contrary. Should they rely on our local grey-tweed puritans and neighborhood narcissists to spend money downtown? I think not. Like it or not, well-heeled students bring money into this town that local businesses need to survive.
Anyone else notice from all the recent posts that Kyle Wilson is always wearing the same shirt?
How about people that always wear the same weird glasses and suspenders?
Ever notice that the businesses that are struggling basically suck? Try delivering a decent product and then complain. It's hard to get a seat at Rao's or the Black Sheep. And the cinema is doing just fine. Five hundred students living downtown isn't going to help Hastings. The place is like a mausoleum and the people who work there have the personalities of crypt keepers. Businesses located nearby One East Pleasant are very upset. First because of the double standard that Archipelago doesn't have to provide parking like they do and, secondly, that the tenant of Archipelago will hog the spaces that those businesses do provide, driving away customers.
6:26
There are no businesses in the Municipal Parking District (basically the CBD) that have to provide parking.
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