Page 10 - BusinessWest January 24, 2022

Community Spotlight
Northampton Leaders Seek to Boost Economy
By Mark Morris
As 2022 begins, Gina-Louise Sciarra starts the new year as Northampton’s new mayor. As she settles into the job, the city faces big opportunities and challenges, especially the constant challenge of managing COVID-19 and its variants. Even as the pan- demic adapts, Sciarra said she’s confident the
“We’re going to make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as create more green space. The redesign will help us meet the next era of retail and commerce while keeping it a place people want to come and experience.”
workers and businesses in Northampton will also adapt and keep moving forward.
“We have to help our businesses through this
really difficult time and figure out what the next stage of our economy is going to look like,” Sci- arra said. “We have a special downtown that we want to stay vibrant and keep it the popular des- tination it’s always been.”
One of the largest projects on the mayor’s agenda involves a redesign of Main Street. Northampton has a uniquely wide main artery, which Sciarra said is lovely in some ways, but it also presents safety issues.
“We’re going to make it safer for pedestri- ans and bicyclists, as well as create more green space,” she said. “The redesign will help us meet the next era of retail and commerce while keeping it a place people want to come and experience.”
Not surprisingly, the Main Street redesign has been a huge topic of conversation among down- town businesses, according to Amy Cahillane, executive director of the Downtown Northamp- ton Assoc. (DNA). Cahillane said some of her members favor keeping the wide Main Street and making crosswalks safer, while others would like to see the street narrowed, allowing for wider sidewalks.
“I don’t think there will be a design that makes everyone happy,” Cahillane said. “At the same time, it’s important for all to understand the mag-
BUILDING HISTORY
SINCE 1897
The Coach House, Northampton, MA Photography by CHODOS, Inc.
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10 JANUARY 24, 2022
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
BusinessWest
Northampton at a glance
YEAR INCORPORATED: 1883
POPULATION: 29.571
AREA: 35.8 square miles
COUNTY: Hampshire
RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE: $17.89
COMMERCIAL TAX RATE: $17.89
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $56,999
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME: $80,179
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT: Mayor, City Council
LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Cooley Dickinson Hospital; ServiceNet Inc.; Smith College; L-3 KEO
* Latest information available