A thought occurred to me this morning concerning the use of the Hope Street Lot: The former temporary fire station and ex-parking lot would really be an ideal location for housing and small commercial businesses.
And here’s why: It would have an appeal to both seniors and working people to live in that location.
It means you would live near the library, the post office, the YMCA, and two very active churches. It is also within walking distance to the bus and railroad station.
If you lived there you could commute to work at UMass, or to Deerfield, Northampton,
and even north to nearby Brattleboro businesses.
I think living there would appeal to working age adults and small families as well as seniors and students.
This must be the thinking of the city government and their original decision to put the property out for proposals.
Turning this property back into a parking lot therefore seems like a waste of a valuable location.
Judith Atkins
Greenfield