Save Our Historic Neighborhood From Careless Development

Dear friends, neighbors, and supporters,

We are a close-knit community in Northampton’s Pomeroy Historic District—of homeowners, renters, young and old, locals and transplants, all united by our love for this unique corner of our city. Our neighborhood consists of charming 1.5- to 3-story historic homes along a narrow country lane that embodies a legacy we cherish. We’ve always been pro-housing and pro-development, supporting thoughtful growth that respects our city’s needs. But today, we face an irresponsible, shortsighted proposal that threatens our community’s character—and could set a dangerous precedent for yours. We need your help to fight back.

A developer plans to build a massive five-story, 54-unit apartment building—which could be described as “Neo-Soviet big box” style—on our quiet street, home to just 35 residents. This structure, 2-2.5 times taller than neighboring homes, will loom over our historic district, with 44 windows staring just 16 feet from one neighbor’s property and down into his skylights, blocking the solar energy potential of the home. It offers zero green space, no affordable or income-adjusted units, and only 24 garage parking spaces for over 100 residents. The developer’s parking and traffic studies, conducted in December during the holiday—in a college town—when our neighborhood which includes a school, a church, and a major performing arts center was unusually quiet, is deeply flawed. Additionally, our already insufficient stormwater drains will be overwhelmed. Yet, all concerns have been ignored by both the developer and the city planning board.

We’re not “NIMBYs”—a term developers use to dismiss legitimate community concerns. We proved our support for housing by backing the first phase of this project: thoughtfully designed market-rate condos that respected our district’s character. We also advocated for the developer to receive $500,000 in taxpayer-funded historic preservation dollars to convert the historic Saint John’s Cantius Church into housing. But that plan was abandoned, and the church will now become a real estate office—not housing. After showing such goodwill, we’re stunned that the developer now dismisses our reasonable, evidence-based requests for compromise. We are also home to two other developments—each a complex of 28 units.

This oversized, poorly planned building—lacking parking, green space, affordability, and respect for our historic district—will strain our narrow lane’s infrastructure and erode the charm that makes Northampton special. More alarmingly, it’s a page from an urban playbook that’s already transformed cities like Boston and Cambridge in ways that don’t fit our community. If this project moves forward without changes, your neighborhood could be next, facing similar disregard for local character and needs.

To demand a more thoughtful design, we have begun to pool funds to retain a lawyer who shares our passion for Northampton’s future. But legal action is expensive, and we can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re launching this GoFundMe to raise money to cover legal fees and court costs. Your support will help us fight for a project that respects our historic district and concerns about basic public safety, includes adequate parking, green space, and affordability, and preserves the balance of growth and heritage that defines Northampton.

**Why Your Support Matters:**

- **Protect Our Heritage:** Safeguard a Historic District from a project that ignores its historic significance.

- **Demand Responsible Growth:** Ensure new housing provides adequate parking and green space with a scale that is proportionate to the character of the surrounding neighborhood.

- **Defend Every Neighborhood:** Prevent this project from becoming a blueprint for developers to override community input across Northampton.

Every dollar you contribute will go directly to our legal fund. Even a small donation or sharing this campaign with friends, family, and neighbors can make a difference. Time is critical—the developer is moving quickly, and without immediate action, construction could begin, forever altering our neighborhood and setting a precedent for others.

Thank you for standing with us. Together, we can ensure Northampton grows responsibly, preserving its historic charm and community spirit for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Concerned Residents of the Pomeroy Historic District