Swinson Letter - Public HearimgNorthampton Historical Commission
City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Members of the Commission:
I urge the commission to carefully review the proposal by Smith College seeking
demolition of the structufes at 21 and 27 Belmont Ave. It involves another step in the
dissolution of a neighborhood and a path of demolition, rather than preservation, for what
was once a thriving, beautiful area of the city.
- -- - - - - -As a child -of- Northampton, someone- -who was born here, who _has _lived a_good.portion of
her life here and someone who cares about the history of the city, I would suggest that the
property at 27 Belmont Ave. is of enough historical significance to warrant careful
consideration of this proposal. Are there alternatives? If the college does not need it,
can it be sold as a private residence? If it's no longer being used, can it be taxed by the
city, and does demolition then lower the tax burden the college must pay?
The house dates back to the early part of the 20 century and is one of very few homes of
such design by architect George Whitman which remain in the city.
I do have a personal history with the property. My grandparents lived there from 1964
(when Smith College took their original home on Green Avenue for construction of the
college's performing arts center) until each of their deaths. After my grandfather's
passing in 1976 and upon my graduation from college, I moved into the home and lived
there until Smith College sought to take ownership of the property back by purchasing
my uncle's half- interest in the home and forcing the matter to public auction when my
mother refused to sell her half - interest to them.
At the time I left the property, it was a very special place, filled with leaded -glass
windows, two patios surrounded by stuccoed walls, an expansive fireplace that presided
over a living room with built -in bookcases at either end, an upstairs solarium room with
intricately -tiled floor and wonderful details throughout. Just an exterior view of the
property now makes clear that the house has been a bit neglected.
It is sad to hear that Smith College no longer has a use for either of these buildings, and
does not have the funds to maintain or keep them. It is even sadder to see the properties,
both of which were once well cared for, fall victim to the "pave paradise, put up a
parking lot" mentality.
I realize it is not possible to tell anyone what they can do with their property; I, as a
taxpaying citizen of Northampton, have chosen to preserve the historic home in which I
now live. Though I am a single person with not too sizeable an income, I save my money
to make the repairs necessary and restore the property for the future. I hope the
Historical Commission can urge other property owners to take similar steps before too
much of our city's history is demolished.
jq �
ct
NbR_T(W PZO, JVA 01660