I’ve been reading quite a few editorials against Chase Bank opening a branch at the former Silverscape Designs location, a jewel of the Northampton downtown. I’ve seen the protests over the past few months. I believe that financial protest is one of the strongest rights we have. We all have a right to spend our money and bank where we do and don’t want to. If we don’t agree how a bank operates, it’s our decision to bank elsewhere.
Chase Bank opening a flagship branch at perhaps our most iconic retail location is the result of many poor decisions this city has made over the past few years. This isn’t Chase Bank’s doing. The fact that no other business felt our real estate was worth a premium speaks of our own shortcomings as a city.
We should thank Chase for putting millions of dollars into this location. Seems like they believe more in our city than most. If they didn’t purchase this building, it would probably still be vacant.
I’ve been living in Northampton for 10 years now. When I moved here 10 years ago, I would bring guests proudly, showing the amazing food and shopping options, wonderful street musicians and bursting nightlife. Now we avoid downtown. Many of our favorite spots have shut their doors, and others a shell of what they used to be.
There were many poor decisions that led to this. It was a terrible policy to enact strict parking measures, with two-hour limits, making it challenging for visitors to shop and stay for a meal. A vibrant downtown wants visitors to stay, not leave after two hours.
I also believe our city’s leadership could have done a better job with the handling of Eric Suher and his plethora of vacant properties, which is taking down this city. It’s not just the empty storefronts. The musical venues including the Calvin and Iron Horse generated income for local businesses.
These venues would bring in thousands of visitors to our downtown on a weekly basis. Lots of income to keep a vibrant download open and profitable. Concertgoers would have dinner, drinks, and perhaps do a little shopping while in town. I always knew that when local restaurants were crowded for dinner, there was a show (or two) going on. Simply put, a vibrant downtown is dependent on his long-standing institutions.
Without the nightlife, the dining and shopping scenes fade; without profitable dining and shopping establishments, you get empty storefronts. Without a vibrant downtown with tax-generating businesses, we end up with budget deficits and cuts to the city budget. With prime real estate locations sitting empty, you get a large multinational bank taking the most prominent empty storefront.
Instead of trying to impose which businesses belong here or how many of a certain industry should operate, whether it be banks or pot shops, we need to focus on initiatives that will attract visitors shopping and eating in our establishments. The goal of any business is to make a profit. With an up-and-coming Easthampton making many business-friendly decisions, Northampton needs to do the same.
Instead of anger that Chase Bank is opening a location, maybe, just maybe, we should be glad that a business was willing to invest a few million dollars in our downtown. I love having Florence Bank as my local community bank, but I’m glad there was a business willing to buy and restore the Silverscape building.
Our local government needs to make the “cost” of Eric Suher’s empty storefronts and music venues much greater than the tax write-offs he’s receiving. Only then do we have a chance of action. I propose the residents of our town come together to purchase these venues. Any citizens of Northampton willing to fight capitalism with capitalism and bring our music and nightlife back, and in doing so, lift our downtown back to life?
Gregg Schwartz lives in Northampton.