More than sixty people attended the North Street Neighborhood Association Barbecue Sunday, July 21 to learn about Douglas Kohl’s 31-unit condominium project proposed for their area. The project is billed as an infill project that will supposedly lessen the need for development in the outlying areas of Northampton. For more information visit the neighborhood group’s website at: http://www.northassoc.org.
Image courtesy Google Earth and the North Street Neighborhood Association
Situated close to a wetland area, the project calls for the creation of five detention ponds to handle the storm water run-off that will be created by adding asphalt and buildings to an area where impervious surfaces do not currently exist. The project proposes to eliminate part of a forest that supports Northampton’s urban ecology. Comprised of three and four bedroom market rate units in the $300 thousand range, the development will add significant traffic to well traveled North Street, a narrow two lane road in poor condition lacking sidewalks along certain stretches and without any crosswalks or lane markings.
According to the city’s website North Street carries from 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles daily. At eight vehicle trips estimated per vehicle, if the sprawling single use subdivision averages two vehicles per unit, about 500 new vehicles trips per day will be added to an already congested street. This doesn’t account for service vehicles and visitors. At three vehicles per household the estimate is 750 new trips per day.
Vehicles line the street on the east side of North Street.
Below Jay Czelusniak stands beside "Paper Road" where a new forty foot wide right of way is proposed directly across the street from his business, Czelusniak Funeral Home.
Czelusniak Funeral Home as seen from Paper Road
North Street road conditions that currently exist at the Paper Road access point are poor. Because the city has failed to improve the area’s infrastructure, the Czelusniak family installed granite curbing and a concrete sidewalk in front of their business. Paper road is to the upper left.
There is no public sidewalk north (or south) of Czelusniak Funeral Home on the east side of North Street.
The gray two story home at the end of View Avenue is slated for removal in order to create a second access point to the development.
The green area behind the home currently located at the end of View Avenue.
The Paper Road access right of way will run behind the homes on Northern Avenue pictured above where three new units are planned.
The end of Northern Avenue
Trail into the woods at the end of Northern Avenue
The plan
Dennis Helmus (standing right) addresses the crowd to discuss the neighborhood’s future
A confection for the occasion
Barbecue hosts Jendi Reiter and Adam Cohen prepare to cut the cake
Wanda Deitner and Ellen Dickinson enjoy refreshments at the barbecue
Planning Board member Keith Wilson (rear of photo, red shirt) addresses the crowd.
There was much enthusiasm on display at the barbecue, tempered by concern for the future of the neighborhood. Some questions raised to ponder:
- How much development is not over-burdensome for the existing neighborhood?
- How much traffic is too much traffic?
- Will there be enough parking and if not, where will people park?
- Will the city hear concerns and agree with them?
- Why does city leadership value open spaces in the outlying areas of the city more highly than open spaces near downtown that add to the quality of life of residents?
- One attendee opined that the project as planned is "horrible."
- Marie Hershkowitz of Northern Avenue offered that rather than destroy existing wetlands and woods why not develop in previously developed areas because once this development goes in it will forever change the nature of the neighborhood.
- How does infill development impact the property rights of others?
