Hyjek letterCarolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
5-story "multi-use" apartment building at 79 King St.
Pam <s.bodewell@gmail.com>Sat, Jul 31, 2021 at 11:04 AM
To: cmisch@northamptonma.gov
I'm against it, vehemently. Who will benefit? The rents in this town totally preclude
anyone of my income level from living in this city as it is, should I be unlucky enough
to go have to go apartment hunting around here.
The only reason I get by is 32 years paying on a mortgage
and still paying- having been fortunate enough to refinance several times.
We certainly don't need to extend them into the King St area to suck up more of the infrastructure
we all who have been here all along must seriously maintain and conserve.
FYI: The climate has changed drastically over these past 30 years and it hasn't gone
unnoticed by those of us who have lived that long in the area. It takes 3 days to line dry clothes
because of all the excess moisture in the air - Witness the past several weeks of 'rainy days'-
I now have moisture in my basement that was bone dry and used to dry clothes in when
I moved in. What exactly is a five story building going to do to the surrounding area
in the short and in the long term? This is my neighborhood and my backyard.
Only two things are for certain: Only the very wealthy will afford to live in this proposed
structure, and the standing of living for the rest of us will suffer as far as necessities of
basic infrastructure,- water use, noise(!), and light pollution- (which is already totally out of control).
I have neighbors in "renovated" homes who have bright lights shining into my dwelling
24-7 and it is wreaking havoc on my circadian rhythm. This can cause long term damage
to the central nervous system of a living creature, namely, myself and the creatures that
live in the immediate area- like birds, squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, all are beloved.
My wealthier neighbors who purchased these "renovated" properties have "climate control"
and central air systems and do not ever have to even think of having to open a window.
Therefore they consider themselves free to light their barbecue outside my open windows
and smoke up my interior dwelling without a care for my quality of life. I happen to like fresh air and having that luxury left to me
of getting fresh air into the place when not in a heating season but there goes my "right" to
quiet enjoyment of my home that I have lived in for 32 years now. The so-called "change" brought
upon us by rampant gentrification has never been for the better. It is truly a curse to have lived this long,
but what is the alternative?
I say "NO" to any such ridiculous five story project in my backyard sucking up more of what
we have left to us in the way of water, air and "quiet enjoyment" - and fast diminishing peace of mind.
Somewhat Respectfully,
Pam Hyjek
74 Market St