Northampton's 'Vision for Downtown'

So, the Gazette publishes another article on Northampton's Future and the city has paid The American Institute of Architects a handsome sum to come up with a "plan" (if you can call it that) to take down the trees in the center, widen the sidewalks, and put in parking garages. I quote, "Trees that block visual connections to sterling facades should be removed and replaced with lower profile plants and vegetation providing colorful and seasonal displays of community pride."

Interested in community pride? Instead of investing in ridiculous plans by the Institute, how about investing in a community garden for the folks on Michaelman Avenue and the "projects" behind Stop and Shop? Why not invest the money in developing real "equal opportunity" housing programs that aren't using the foundations of former mental institutions that were forced to shut down due to negligence and abuse? Would you city planners want to live there?

What else? Instead of spending a million on re-doing sidewalks, why not create a center for workers where basic language, reading, composition, information technology is taught for free? A few non-profits never hurt the area.

And what about the ongoing drug problem in Northampton? How about a community center for the kids? How about using the money wisely? Read trough the blog and check out some of the ideas for Amherst: they all apply to NoHo.