Reading the recent article about the nine months it took to repair the walkway by Eric Suher’s property (“Portion of Northampton Main Street sidewalk reopens,” Gazette, April 1), I literally laughed out loud at the closing statement: “Attempts to reach Suher … were unsuccessful.”
There are few things in the Happy Valley that are as predictable as Mr. Suher’s response to journalistic inquiries regarding issues of his “investments” in Northampton. During the many years I’ve lived here and the many articles I’ve read that describe Mr. Suher’s problematic properties and how he handles them, the pieces always end the same way: He’s unreachable. And my reaction is always the same: How has one person’s interests/investments impeded so much of the needs of Northampton? What could possibly be his motives? Why would someone leave empty business spaces that reflect so poorly on the feel of the city? What does he gain by neglecting his properties?
History has taught me that he will have “no comment” but it sure is perplexing!
Bette Kanner
Amherst