From Joel Russell:
Dear Friends and Fellow Citizens:
Here is an update on the status of Notre Dame Urban Design Studio Project in Northampton.It is being distributed to those who have expressed interest by writing to this email address, as well as to the public at large.
We are pleased to announce that the Notre Dame Urban Design Studio project, to be called "Design Northampton Week,"is going forward at the invitation of the Northampton Design Forum.The Design Forum came togetherin late June under the umbrella of Available Potential Enterprises, Ltd (APE), a non-profit arts organization based in Northampton, as an organizing committee of Northampton citizens interested in fostering quality urban design.We extended a formal invitation to theNotre Dame University Urban Design Studio, whichselectedNorthampton as the preferred location forts annual weeklong project in September. The Forum will organize the event andraise the money needed to cover expenses for the group. So far, over $7,500 has been donated or pledged, which is enough to ensure that the group will commit to coming here. However, another $8,000 remains to be raised over the summer.
"Design Northampton Week" will be held downtown at the new APE Space at 126 Main Street, where it will be highly visible and accessible to anyone who wants to drop by andparticipate. Additional meetings may occur in other locations to make it more available to residents of these areas. Design Northampton Week will run continuously from September 7 – 13. The specific subject matter will emerge from conversations held during the week, with no preconceived agenda other than illustration of quality urban design and sustainability. The goal is to engage and excite the community by offering opportunities for public participation, feedback, and informal give and take. It will be an opportunity for anyone in Northampton to contribute to the conversation about our future and to join in the design process. The Notre Dame group will include six graduate students under the direction of Professor Philip Bess.They will spendthe week engaging with the community and offering design recommendations that illustrate sustainability and traditional urban design.
This effort will support and assist the City of Northampton in implementing the City’s Sustainability Plan by increasing public understanding and awareness of the importance of urban design. The week will start with an introductory presentation by Professor Bess, followed by ongoingformal and informal discussions of work in progress, focusing on drawings that bring to life many of the concepts in the Sustainability Plan.The Northampton Design Forum intends to involve all segments of the community,including businesses, as well as individuals and organizations who do not usually participate in City planning processes. The atmosphere will be relaxed, friendly, and enjoyable.
Joel Russell chairs the Northampton Design Forum organizing committee. Others currently on the committee include City Councilors Michael Bardsley and Robert Reckman and Planning Board member Katharine Baker, as well as Frances Volkmann, Wendy Foxmyn, Michael Kusek, Gordon Thorne, Michael DiPasquale, John Sinton, Tristram Metcalfe, Ira Helfand, Mari Gottdiener, Mary Kasper, and James Lowenthal.
Additional tasks the group will undertake over the summer include publicizing the event through media and the internet, conducting outreach to businesses, institutions, neighborhood, ward, civic, youth, and other groups, arranging for food for the team, and planning activities to make this event a celebration of Northampton. If you wish to help with the effort, or to be kept informed of progress in planning this event, please send an email to NotreDameNorthampton@gmail.com. In your email, indicate whether you would like to help with any specific tasks.
We have beguna fundraising campaign to cover expenses of bringing the Notre Dame studio here. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution to support Design Northampton Week. Checks should be made out to A.P.E. Ltd. Please write "Notre Dame Design" on the memo line of your check. Thanks for your support.
The Northampton Design Forum website is http://northamptondesignforum.blogspot.com/.
We hope that you will join us ina week-long community conversation about our city’s future.
Joel Russell, Chair
Northampton Design Forum
