Rising Star Committee

 

Housing & Sheltering Committee (and liaisons) this morning

This being Amherst, naturally I have to fall back on a Native American sounding designation title award for a relatively new committee with a very PC sounding official name:  The Housing and Sheltering Committee.

The committee was born out of a merger between the Housing Partnership/Fair Housing Committee and The Committee on Homelessness, but only after the Select Board dissolved the two former committees.  So I guess you could describe them as a Phoenix who arose from the ashes.

For a committee that only first met on May 30, 2012 they have made great strides towards becoming a political powerhouse.  At this morning's meeting Select Board liaison Alisa Brewer stated in her usual succinct manner:  "Planning Board members and Planning staff irritate some people.  You come from a purer place ... your opinion matters."

And Planning Board liaison Connie Kruger (also former Amherst Senior Planner for 16 years) told the board it would be "political suicide not to include this committee in on zoning issues."

As a further example of the consolidation of political capital, HSC co-chair Greg Stutsman was recently appointed to the always influential Planning Board.  If not for the fact both these boards are volunteer activities the state would probably disallow that as double dipping or a conflict of interest.

The HSC can take credit for one of the more influential consultant reports issued in the past 30 or 40 years, the "Housing Production Plan."

This report graphically illustrates the problems created when supply and demand are out of whack.  And of course the largest creator of supply is the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a town where 59% of the population are now "college aged youths."

The committee is considering ways of increasing housing supply through zoning changes, as well as possibly forming a land or housing trust to develop projects on their own.  And with the highly regarded reputation they have established in just over a year, it could happen.

Amherst is now teetering on the brink of falling below the 10% affordable housing threshold thus opening the town up to a Chapter 40B mega housing project.   Zoning changes to help increase the supply of affordable housing requires a difficult to attain two-thirds vote of Town Meeting.

The Housing & Sheltering Committee will certainly help lead the charge.  And they stand an infinitely better chance than did "The Light Brigade."

Art & Eats

 

Metacomet Cafe 27 South Pleasant Street, Amherst

Two new bricks and mortar businesses will open in the heart of the downtown in time to tap into that tidal way of new customers who roar back into Amherst the last week of August.

Metacomet Cafe will open in the spot formerly occupied by Chez Albert before they moved to the other side of town; and Art Alive, an arts and crafts emporium that encourages consumer participation, has taken over the space former occupied by 35 South Cycle, a fitness business that expired last August. 

Art Alive, 35 South Pleasant Street, Amherst

A Curtain No More

Marsh House last week

Marsh House this morning

War on Rowdyism: The Tide Is Turning

 Graph courtesy of APD

With overall citations up 30% over last year it may seem counter intuitive to declare the problem of rampaging college aged youth is getting better ... but it is.

Note, for instance,  the decrease in arrests for "noise" vs citations issued this year vs last.  But an increase in "nuisance" tickets, a slighter higher level of response/sanction to a party.

A cop in the field has a fair amount of latitude in deciding to arrest (cuff hands behind back, throw -- err, gently place -- in the back of a cruiser and bring to the station for booking) or simply issue a $300 ticket.

If the perps are cooperative they only get a warning, or civil infraction ticket; if not they get arrested.

Word has gotten out about noise/nuisance bylaw enforcement, and the kids are starting to get the message.

According to UMPD Chief John Horvath:

"UMPD dedicated more officers to supporting APD with off campus issues in spring 2013.  The two departments have worked together for a long time and there are good relationships built, while new ones are forming.  It is my intention to continue to work with APD, Chief Livingstone and the Amherst & Hadley communities to support them when needed, while respecting the jurisdictional boundaries that are established."

UMPD Mounted Patrol stationed on Phillips Street April 5th 

I also asked APD Chief Scott Livingstone if this past spring seemed better controled than last spring because of a united crackdown:  

" We know that the weekends have been quieter than past years, because of enforcement, assistance from UMPD and MSP, and the cooler weather…I also think the continued messaging from Enku Gelaye's office helped as well." 

This spring UMass officials issued stern messages to students and their parents warning about the consequences of bad behavior.  They also instituted "Walk This Way", where a legion of volunteers set up at high traffic areas during the late night to redirect revelers away from residential neighborhoods. 


 
Amherst Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe in the dead of night mid-April

Chief Livingstone agrees enforcement is working, but it also comes at a high cost: 

"We can put an end to much of the bad behavior with enforcement, but not all the bad behavior. Problem is, it cost a lot of money in overtime  cost, and my cops get tired and burned out, and that worries me…Tired cops and stressful situations are a bad combination…" 

According to a prominent longtime local landlord (whose property once made my "Party House of the Weekend") this past spring was "as under control as any I can recall."

Yes, of course the "Blarney Blowout" stands as a notable exception.  But perhaps -- coming in the early spring -- it acted as a wake up call, setting off a "we're-not-going-to-take-this-anymore" response.

A kind of high water mark for rowdy behavior that, like Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg, represents a dramatic example of a turning point ... the beginning of the end.

DUI Dishonor Roll

Sobering statistic:  36%  of all traffic deaths in Massachusetts are DUI-related

Since Omar Cruz, age 21, was taken off the road early Saturday at 3:29 AM -- a time when most of us are safely sleeping in bed -- and he was the only drunk driver bagged by APD this past weekend, I suppose we locals should feel somewhat relieved. 

Although I much prefer the July 4th weekend -- number one nationwide for DUI arrests -- where not a single tipsy perp was to be had within the confines of Amherst.

May be quite a while before we see a repeat of that good thing. 

Tasty Expansion

 Mission Cantina, 485 West Street, Amherst.  (Outside looks the same)

For a much needed break from reporting business obituaries in our little college town, I submit for your culinary perusal the following good news note:  Mission Cantina -- the blockbuster restaurant in South Amherst Village Center has doubled in size -- with the long awaited addition/renovation now complete.

 Doorway to new room

And the expansion seems not to have hurt the cozy atmosphere any.  Based on the overcrowded parking lot I witnessed this past weekend, there's still a wait for a table during prime time, but certainly nowhere near what it was a month or so ago.
  

 

New room

According to manager Sammy Kochan:

"With the expansion finally complete , the wait times have dropped significantly throughout the week. With the addition of reservations for parties of 6 or more , and tables that actually accommodate groups up to 16 , the overall flow and customer experience has greatly improved. As for the weekends, wait times , they fluctuate from 10 minutes to 45 during peak business hours,"

The Mexican restaurant opened in the summer of 2011 after Andiamo's went belly up, and has been wildly successful since day one.  So much so, Mission Cantina recently opened a second location in Brookline.

All photos taken before business opened for the day

Parking lot 6:00 PM (after opening at 4:00 PM)

Repaving Paradise

Marsh House lawn 81 Lessey Street. 

Amherst College, the town's largest property owner and #1 taxpayer, is on a building boom, with current projects underway in the downtown -- the  Fiber Art Building rehab -- and the massive overhaul at Pratt Field.

 Fiber Arts Building heart of downtown

After the $19 million setback with the Science Center it must be nice to have a construction project go quickly and easily.

Like this sidewalk renovation that bisects a lush green lawn that flows down a steep hill, practically all the way to  Sweetser Park.

According to Facilities Director Jim Brassord:  "The sidewalk was in serious disrepair so we are replacing it.  In doing so, we'll make it a bit wider, perhaps a foot, to ensure that it is consistent with the width of our standard sized sidewalk plow."

 

Marsh House built 1835

The Marsh House at the top of the hill is plenty historic in its own right.  Built in 1835 for Luke Sweetser (of Sweetser Park fame) the house acted as a fraternity for Amherst College students.  Its most famous pledge was none other than Calvin Coolidge, who graduated cum laude before going on to become our 30th President.

The property is bounded to the south by the Dickinson Homestead and The Evergreens, built for Austin Dickinson, Miss Emily's brother.  Both also owned by Amherst College; and all of these properties are pretty much located dead center in the new Dickinson Local Historic District.

Since driveways, terraces and sidewalks are excluded as long as "any such structure is substantially at grade level," Amherst College did not have to seek a "Certificate of Appropriateness" from the DLHD committee.

The entire project was completed within a week, despite the tropical temperatures.  Ah, if only all of them went so well.  Now that would be historic!