The new Hilton Garden Inn at the Round House

The air conditioning was on so the council chamber was a bit chilly at the outset of the public hearing sponsored by the Central Business Architecture Committee Tuesday evening May 29. About 15 people attended, a mix of city officials and private residents.

• 1 Main Street
• 2 Old School Commons
• 3 Hotel entrance
• 4 ?

Concerns expressed included the proximity of the new hotel to existing dwellings. Residents of apartments at 22-34 New South Street, Rosa Ibarra and Mary Chapin, concluded that the rear of their building would now face a brick wall only fifteen feet away and that the open air space they’ve enjoyed would be turned into an alley. (Mural anyone?) The reality is that they will live in the shadow of the hotel and lose their morning sunshine. Robert Dawson of Russell & Dawson Architects and Engineering in East Hartford, Connecticut responded that this is what the city told him was allowed by zoning and that they were just following the parameters as contained in the city’s Request for Proposals.

John and Barbara Hurley who live on the third floor across the street in 25 Old School Commons were concerned with how the hotel might obstruct their mountain view. Mr. Dawson replied that he didn’t think the hotel would have dramatic impacts for them, though I’m not certain they agreed.

proposed view from Round House parking lot

Architect Tom Douglas and Leeds resident Aaron Helfand spoke on the building’s design, most notably the windows and cornices. To a certain degree this came down to a matter of differences in personal preferences between professional designers. I was reminded of how often Mayor Higgins speaks about disagreeing without being disagreeable. Of course this is not so easy to do when on the receiving end of someone else’s critique, but the meeting remained hospitable for the most part.

During the discussion between board members Peter Frothingham, Bob Walker and Joe Blumenthal, some frustration on the part of the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group president Shardool Parmar was evident. The board was reluctant to impose further financial demands on Mr. Parmar but at the same time they wanted to best serve Northampton residents who will have to live with the hotel for the next century or so. They compromised and Mr. Parmar agreed to modify the east end of the garage to resemble a building with windows and promised flower boxes and a cornice along the west end to appease aesthetic concerns of the board. Several of the compromises are costing additional funds, said Mr. Parmar, so fewer funds would be available to spruce up Pulaski Park. He added that he also agreed to take care of the trash and recycling from the 22-34 New South Street apartments and to include a secure area so there would be no "dumpster diving."

The wing to the left juts out a bit when compared to the right, so the building is not a perfect rectangle and the windows do not match. This rendering is just that, a rendering, as the trees and such that exist now in Pulaski will remain in place so the view from Main Street will be obstructed. Mr. Dawson added that the hotel will utilize energy saving windows and include concealed air conditioning registers. The Oxford blend deep red clay bricks are being used to match other nearby buildings. There will be no illuminated lighting for the signs and outdoor lighting will be designed to avoid glare. The garage will rise 5-10 feet higher than New South Street and will be visible as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists cross over the "dry" bridge above the future bicycle trail.

Mr. Dawson reported the heights of the buildings in relation to the new hotel:

• 40′ 1" New South Street apartments
• 67′ Academy of Music
• 42′ 5" Memorial Hall
• 47′ 5" Church
• 50′ City Hall
• 59′ 11" Hilton Garden Inn at the arch, the remainder about 55′ tall.

In the end members of the board voted to move the project forward. The next public hearing on the project is scheduled to take place on June 14 before the Planning Board. Berkshire Design Group of Northampton is handling the site plan.