2002 Northampton Planning Awards
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Honoring our History: Historic Northampton
When the Flood Hazard Mitigation Team received a floodplain outreach grant to create a video of flood hazards, the City gave
Historic Northampton the commission. Kerry Buckley welcomed the challenge to take a budget barely enough to pay for supplies and
agreed to serve as executive producer. Kerry put his powerful vision, energy, and commitment into the project, as he does for every Historic
Northampton project. David Parnell, the filmmaker, took Kerry’s direction and, created an informative video that exceeded any reasonable
expectations we had or the budget allowed. Historic Northampton now hosts this video on their web site and maintains it as part of their
historical collection.
Honoring our History, Extra-Ordinary Volunteer Commitment: Stan Sherer and Louise Bloomberg
When the Historic Commission applied for and received a small grant from the Northampton Arts Council to celebrate the millennium
by documenting significant historic preservation projects in Northampton, Stan Sherer was approached to create the photographs. Stan not
only readily agreed, but devoted hundreds of uncompensated hours that culminated in a priceless gift to the City of sensitively portrayed
images depicting outstanding examples of preservation in a community that cares for its built environment. Stan also made presentations at
the High School to educate students on the state of the art techniques utilized to produce the images as well as personally installing the
images at both exhibit locations.
Louise Bloomberg, of the Historic Commission, oversaw the project implementation and organized the exhibit opening at Historic
Northampton in addition to overseeing the installation of the images at their permanent location on the second floor of City Hall. Ms.
Bloomberg volunteered her time to undertake the time consuming task of soliciting and editing information for the text panels that provide a
brief history of each project. Together these two individuals accomplished a project that serves as a great learning tool and by being
permanently on public display, will continue to draw excitement and interest.
Exemplary Conservationist: Gerrit Stover
Gerrit Stover is the person to call for planning projects that need a bit of moral support or volunteer work. When the City was
considering downtown architectural standards to help enhance the vitality of downtown, it was Gerrit who created a computerized visual
analysis that demonstrated why the standards were needed. When the City partnered with Habitat for Humanity to move a surplus city-
owned house to a nearby building lot, it was Gerrit who created the computer rendering that helped neighbors visualize how the house would
look on the site. When the City was interested in preserving farmland and vistas along Park Hill Road, it was Gerrit who brokered a key
joint Northampton-Easthampton Agricultural Preservation Restriction.
When city planning is happening, Gerrit can be counted on to participate and advocate.
Open Space Preservation and Affordable Housing Advocacy: Broad Brook Coalition
The City forms many partnerships with many non-profit and neighborhood groups. One of the most fruitful is our partnership with the
Broad Brook Coalition. BBC support made possible the City’s purchase of well over half of the 550-acre Fitzgerald Lake Conservation
Area. BBC volunteers now perform the majority of the maintenance at Fitzgerald Lake, and have transformed the conservation area into our
best maintained conservation area.
BBC’s genesis came about by opposing a poorly thought out development. Early on, however, BBC decided that they wanted to help
make good things happen, rather than simply opposing projects. BBC transformed themselves when they fought successfully for a mixed-
income development at Pines Edge and created the fund raising and support necessary to expand Fitzgerald Lake. Nancy Harvin, Frank
Olbris, Jonathan Roche, Monica Jakuc, Bob Packwood, Carmen Ahearn, Jody Larsen, Marianne McKim, and Norma Roche, have all played
pivotal roles in this effort of the years, but dozens, if not hundreds, of other volunteers have all participated in this truly collaborative
partnership.
Progressive Downtown Redevelopment: Claire Bateman
Claire Bateman made the transformation of the former Elks Building and the permanent home for the Interfaith Cot Shelter a
successful reality. She undertook a project on the brink of failure and turned it into a vibrant contributor to our downtown. When Claire
rescued the project, she accepted the most ambitious revitalization project in downtown in over a decade. Claire shared the original vision
that saw a homeless shelter, social service agencies, private citizens and a religious organization living harmoniously in a building restored
to its former glory. Ms. Bateman is to be congratulated for her spirit and her perseverance in bringing this endeavor, which benefits the City
in a multitude of ways, to magnificent completion.
Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Planning Board: Dan Yacuzzo
Dan Yacuzzo served on the Northampton Planning Board for eleven dedicated years, the last three of those years as Chair. Dan is a
passionate and extremely strong advocate for what he saw as the City’s needs. Mr. Yacuzzo often used his positive attitude and good cheer
to make even the most passionate and controversial discussions go smoothly. In addition, Dan has worked tirelessly to support other
planning goals. He was a driving force in creating and making the Taste of Northampton a success and is a generous supporter of the arts.
His business and his community efforts were a key part in making Northampton’s hospitality business one of the most important part of
downtown’s success.
Extra-Ordinary Board Service, Planning Board: Andrew Crystal
Andrew Crystal served on the Planning Board for fifteen dedicated years, seven of those years as Chair. In addition to being a
brilliant moderator, Andy served two critical roles on the Planning Board. First, he helped the Planning Board learn how to use their new
Site Plan Approval authority and remained the strongest advocate of ensuring that projects were well designed. Second, Andy helped
transform the Planning Board to be more proactive, initiating the Planning Board’s first Northampton State Hospital master plan. He also
advocated goal setting for Board activities and served on the Chamber of Commerce and as the Chair of the Safer Streets Committee, which
eventually led to the creation of a permanent Transportation Commission.
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Wayne Feiden, A.I.C.P., Planning Director