Northampton, Massachusetts

Do a google search on Northampton, MA and you'll get back over 1.8 million hits. The town is well known both for Smith College and its 'outing' as Lesbianville, USA by the National Enquirer in 1992 (followed by Newsweek and then a segment on 20/20 in 1993). In 2001 Boston Magazine named it a best place to live. In 2005, Money Magazine named it as one of the 10 best places to live.

Historically, Northampton has had its internal clashes. Town/Gown issues frequently arise (most recently over Smith College's planned Engineering Center, which is substantially redefining the Green Street neighborhood - in fact, many people would say there will no longer be a neighborhood there) and the Northampton vs. Florence debate, which, like the hydra, has many heads and keeps coming back in different ways, provoking many lively debates.

For those of us who live and work in the area, a lack of affordable housing (both rental and ownership) has long been an issue. Propety values (and property taxes) have doubled in the past several years. And the downtown parking situation is a constant irritant.

Despite that, there is much to recommend (otherwise, why would it have been named a best place to live?). Forbes Library is great, though funding often restricts their hours. The grounds (especially along Paradise Pond) and Museum at Smith College are well worth walking through. Although rents in the main downtown probably contribute to the 'revolving' feel, where many businesses change or close at least once a year and the ones that stay often have large corporations behind them (cell phone stores, etc.), there are several unique shops and restaurants, plus the Academy of Music, the Pleasant Street Theater, and Pleasant Street Video (where you can find many obscure titles, documentaries and foreign films your local Blockbuster wouldn't bother with).

Currently the big debate in downtown is the proposed Hilton Hotel. It is planned to go in below Pulaski Park, where its presence will almost certainly degrade the appeal of the recently rehabilitated apartment building on South Street, throwing up a huge blank wall within spitting distance of their back windows and porches.

Northampton/Lower Pioneer Valley News and Information

Northampton Redoubt II- Daryl LaFleur of the Valley Advocate's website and blog to address local issues. This is his personal site, separate from his blog at the Valley Advocate.

WHMP - The Bill Dwight Show. I really like Bill. I first met him when his son used to hang out with my housemate's son when they both attended the Jackson Street School over ten years ago. Former city councilman, long-time employee of Pleasant Street Video, he now has his own news show on WHMP radio. You can listen to broadcasts at the WHMP website or catch him from 9-10 in the morning at AM 1400.

WHMP - the Pioneer Valley's News Radio - The Morning News Watch with Vannah and Collins and the Bill Dwight Show examine local issues, while airings of Rachel Maddow, Al Franken and Stepanie Miller hit the national scene. Thom Hartman, who I frequently listen to while driving from my morning client to my afternoon one, is hard to categorize but interesting to listen to.

The Valley Advocate - this free weekly is mostly about entertainment (movie reviews, what music is playing where, plus a large personals section). But they also feature Heather Brandon's Urban Compass blog, which examines issues in Springfield, and Stephanie Kraft and Maureen Turner do a decent job repoorting on issues relevant to the local area.

Daily Hampshire Gazette - ok, so the only 'free' part of the website is the classifieds, but that can still be useful. A typical local newspaper, it does a decent job covering news in the immediate area, has light coverage of state-wide issues, and almost nonexistant coverage at the national or global level

Nohojobs.com - a relatively new website, gradually being discovered by businesses who can't afford (or don't want to pay for) expensive job listings in the Gazette

City of Northampton - web site for the City of Northampton

Paradise City Forum - connect with your neighbors in Baystate, Florence, Leeds and Northampton - current forums include the Hilton Hotel, the I-91 Interchange, Hospital Hill, and the Smith College expansion.

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