Although we can conceive of a blend of good and bad growth, the proposed building at the corner of Hallock Street in Amherst represents bad growth. Good growth supports family-friendly businesses. We have more than enough cafes, restaurants and boutiques. What we need are bowling alleys, indoor playgrounds and game rooms, especially for winter days; a music store; a hardware store; a reasonably priced comprehensive tech store; a science store; a pet store. These would attract families not only from Amherst.
It strikes us that the architectural design for the proposed building is as conventional and uninteresting as the Trump-ish condo building on the other side of Kendrick Park and, too, what is proposed for the former Carriage Shops.
We need growth with a unique aesthetic that captures the pioneering artists and intellectuals who have made Amherst a mecca for adventurous, creative spirits and also for tourists curious about the town that was Emily Dickinson’s.
Joyce and Leonard Berkman
Amherst