The City Council’s Committee on Community Resources will host a conversation about the “State of the Northampton Farm” during its virtual meeting at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 21.
The Agricultural Commission is scheduled to make a presentation, including discussion of damages suffered by farmers resulting from the floods this summer.
The Zoom link to join the conversation is:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89760604223?pwd=a3lXSmV6UVB6dFpBMEFwenVyTzBqZz09
Sale of 33 King Street
The city later this year will seek bids to buy and redevelop the 1.46-acre parcel at 33 King St. that formerly was owned by the state and used for the Hampshire County Hall of Records. That vacant two-story building, which is nearly 50 years old, is expected to be demolished.
The draft Request for Proposals calls for a minimum bid of $2.5 million and will give preference to projects that include mixed-income housing, at least 20 parking spaces available to the public, and a multi-story building of more than three floors.
The redevelopment plan must include an easement for the public to pass through the property on foot or via non-motorized vehicles to the rail trail at the east side of the site.
Specifics of the Request for Proposals, including the criteria for scoring bids, will be discussed at a joint meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee, of which I am a member, and Committee on Community Resources at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 6.
The city expects to issue the Request for Proposals early in September with Nov. 16 the proposed deadline for submitting bids. Profits from the sale would be split equally with the state.
The draft Request for Proposals is available here:
https://northamptonma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/21770?fileID=182679
Clarke School partnership
The City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to approve an order authorizing the lease of two classrooms and office space at the Jackson Street School to the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech from Sept. 1 through June 30, 2024.
Clarke will pay the city $34,000 for use of the space by its staff and up to nine students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 5. They will participate in inclusive programs with Jackson Street School students for art, music and physical education activities, as well as recess, lunch and library sessions.
The School Committee on Aug. 10 voted to declare surplus for the coming school year the space at Jackson Street School. Renewal of the lease would depend on the continued availability of that space.
In supporting the order, I praised the partnership because it will produce revenue for the city and add diversity to the educational experience of Clarke School and public-school students.
Division of Community Care survey
The city’s new Division of Community Care invites people who live, work or receive services in Northampton to complete a community survey measuring awareness and perceptions about the new alternative to policing program.
The Center for Program Evaluation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is administering the survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete and is available here: bit.ly/dccnorthampton
Responses are anonymous and confidential.
The Division of Community Care, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, beginning later this summer will provide civilian responders to nonviolent calls. Those responders will assist some of the most vulnerable members of the community by providing support, advocacy and connection to resources.
More information is available here: https://www.northamptondcc.org.
Stan