AMHERST — While restaurants remain strong and more dining options could be successful, there are challenges to bringing more retail establishments to Amherst, according to a draft report and analysis provided to town officials here.
The information is from research done by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and Elan Planning of Saratoga Springs, New York.
Economic Development Director Geoff Kravitz said the report and other surveys will be used to create an economic development plan for dealing with a changing economy.
Lori Tanner, PVPC’s senior economic development policy analyst, explained Amhest is “still a dining destination … and there is potential for additional dining and drinking,” Tanner said.
But there is not enough residential development in Amherst to support significant new retail enterprises, though it’s possible that the town could add another clothing store or health and beauty store, according to Tanner’s report.
Kravitz said he has heard that people want more stores to shop at, but the reports show there are barriers to having more retail.
“There’s not a whole lot we could support with the existing or future populations,” Kravitz said
While there may be room for a general merchandise store, a car dealership would be less viable.
Tanner’s concern is that 57 percent of household spending by residents is already done outside Amherst, what she calls “retail leakage.” This means many of the shopping destinations are the big box stores in Hadley.
Amherst Business Improvement District Executive Director Sarah la Cour said these preliminary reports captured some of the long-running concerns, including that it is easier to go through permitting in Hadley than Amherst.