VanZee letterCarolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
proposed development on 107 Williams Street
Vicki Van Zee <vvanzee@gmail.com>Sun, Mar 6, 2022 at 5:28 PM
To: Carolyn Misch <cmisch@northamptonma.gov>
Cc: mayor@northamptonma.gov
Dear Planning Board members,
As an owner of a 2-family house on Henry Street for over 40 years I write with growing concern about the potential impact of the city’s plan to target our neighborhood as an area for high-density housing. It’s not that I oppose
development, nor do I oppose the intent to provide more housing in Northampton. In fact, I support affordable housing and would be happy to have it in our neighborhood. What I do oppose is the building of so many units – and
most of them unaffordable to modest-income residents like many of us in our neighborhood.
Our house was considered a teardown when we bought it. Over time - with loans and sweat equity - we’ve made it into the pleasant home it is today. I know of many other houses in the surrounding blocks that hold a similar story
and that, in fact, is what has given our neighborhood the character that we all treasure. These houses are another version of ‘affordable housing’ – just as 107 Williams Street might have been if there were the supports in place for
that to happen.
My concern about creating high-density housing is 2-fold. One is about the current plan for 107 Williams Street and the other is about future development and the process for determining suitability of housing proposals.
Regarding 107 Williams Street. . . the current plan for 8 units perched on the intersection of Montview and Williams seems like a recipe for future collisions. Williams Street is narrow, it is in disrepair, it’s sidewalks are hard to
navigate and it already has a multitude of cars that park on the street – especially around that intersection. In other words, the infrastructure is woefully inadequate to support an 8-unit structure that will have at least 8 cars going in
and out of that proposed complex.
Regarding future development. . . we know that this is a given. There seems to be a lot of energy and time spent on dealing with neighbors’ dissatisfaction after a project has been designed and proposed. For example, both residents
in Bay State and here in Ward 3 expressed their concerns about the unsuitability of recent housing installations and proposals after the fact. Might it be possible to collaborate with a representation of neighbors in those areas that
would be most impacted by a development before the developer draws up the plans? I know the owner of any property can do whatever s/he wants. And I also know that residents want to continue being happy where they have
chosen to live and to be supportive of a governing body that takes into account their voices and expressed concerns.
Thank you for your consideration.
Vicki Van Zee
36 Henry Street
Northampton, MA
PS If you haven't already, I invite you all to take a drive or walk down Williams Street.