I was saddened to see the My Turn of April 23, titled “A town that cares about community should care about housing,” which suggested that those who opposed the Hope Street parking lot or the Stone Farm Lane development are anti-housing and lack community commitment. 

The writer states that “…this is a community that cares about community” and implies that those who oppose housing in certain places are not committed to community and are not “visionary.” But in reality, if we were a strong community, we would not be attacking each other for holding different visions. 

Greenfield needs housing, no question about it, especially for those with limited income. There is in process a large CSO housing project behind Wells Street, plus 187 Main St. (though some question the wisdom of taking out thre businesses in a struggling downtown), the Wilson’s project, a project on Hope Street and one in the former Snow’s building on School Street. Additionally, the Green River School might make good housing. 

But do we preserve our community by putting housing on any empty space anywhere without careful review and lots of input? Should forested land and prime agricultural land be developed without limitation?

The writer refers to the Hope Street lot as a “patch of asphalt,” forgetting that prior to the temporary fire station’s locating there, it was a busy parking lot bringing the city parking fees, serving Hope Street businesses and the courthouse — both workers and those accessing assistance programs located in the building. 

When the parking lot closed, workers had to park on streets, walking to work. People accessing courthouse programs had to vie for on-street parking. Some women courthouse workers expressed anxiety about returning to cars in the town’s enclosed parking lot after dark. 

Though I choose to live in a neighborhood near downtown, there are folks who moved to a more rural part of Greenfield for that experience. Our housing variety is a factor that brings people to town and invites them to remain here, building a strong community. I can understand why the Stone Farm Lane folks want to maintain their community as rural and I see that value as a community strength. To criticize those wanting to preserve some of our beautiful community while planning for more housing, lacks vision and is short-sighted. 

Let’s keep supporting more housing and let’s stop demonizing those who want planning around where to put it. That sort of thinking is lacking community spirit and is far too simplistic. 

Anna Morrison lives in Greenfield.