Smith grapples with Northampton housing concerns
Kate Robinson
Issue date: 11/20/03 Section: News
With an eye to the future, Smith College has finally begun the preliminary stages of planning for a new science and engineering building on Green Street. The college owns land bordering Green, West and Belmont Streets, some of which is currently occupied by market and traditional level housing. The college plans to utilize an area on Belmont and Arnold Streets, which could potentially displace the tenants in four buildings. Plans are being made to compensate anyone affected by the expansion.
"Some time ago, Smith decided to begin purchasing property across Green Street, in the area bordered by Green, West and Belmont to give us more options for campus expansion because we felt that placing the Campus Center where we did, that was the last space in our core campus that lent itself to having a building placed on it and even then we had to move Wesley House," said Ruth Constantine, vice president of financial affairs.
According to Constantine, who has been a key figure in the development process, the college acquired all but two of the properties on Green Street no less than 10 years ago, with most of the property being in the college's possession for much longer. With the help of architectural firm Clement and Halspan, Smith decided that the most prudent means of expansion, given the land available to the college, was toward Green Street.
"We knew at the time that we would need to build an engineering and science building complex before too long, and so we had a, if you will, a shorter intermediate need coming up as we were thinking about these long term campus planning issues," said Constantine.
Many of the buildings in the area are small apartment buildings housing four to 10 occupants. Aware of the potential conflict with current residents, Smith began a survey process before the purchasing of any land took place.
"When we decided to start buying property in the area, the first thing we did before we purchased any was to go and meet with the mayor to be sure that the city knew of our plans and our needs and to express our interest in not harming the city's stock of affordable housing," said Constantine. The college has decided to place the new science and engineering building in the space formerly occupied by the bookstore, on the corner of Green and Belmont.
"Some time ago, Smith decided to begin purchasing property across Green Street, in the area bordered by Green, West and Belmont to give us more options for campus expansion because we felt that placing the Campus Center where we did, that was the last space in our core campus that lent itself to having a building placed on it and even then we had to move Wesley House," said Ruth Constantine, vice president of financial affairs.
According to Constantine, who has been a key figure in the development process, the college acquired all but two of the properties on Green Street no less than 10 years ago, with most of the property being in the college's possession for much longer. With the help of architectural firm Clement and Halspan, Smith decided that the most prudent means of expansion, given the land available to the college, was toward Green Street.
"We knew at the time that we would need to build an engineering and science building complex before too long, and so we had a, if you will, a shorter intermediate need coming up as we were thinking about these long term campus planning issues," said Constantine.
Many of the buildings in the area are small apartment buildings housing four to 10 occupants. Aware of the potential conflict with current residents, Smith began a survey process before the purchasing of any land took place.
"When we decided to start buying property in the area, the first thing we did before we purchased any was to go and meet with the mayor to be sure that the city knew of our plans and our needs and to express our interest in not harming the city's stock of affordable housing," said Constantine. The college has decided to place the new science and engineering building in the space formerly occupied by the bookstore, on the corner of Green and Belmont.