Consultant to aid Amherst businesses hit by pandemic
A view of Main Street in downtown Amherst on Saturday afternoon, March 14, 2020. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 3/3/2021 12:31:42 PM
AMHERST Downtown businesses that continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to benefit from a consultant hired through a state grant.
The town and Amherst Business Improvement District recently partnered to obtain a $60,000 Local Rapid Recovery Program grant from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative that will be used to hire CivicMoxie, LLC, a women-owned planning and urban design company based in Brookline and Woodstock, Vermont.
Town Manager Paul Bockelman said in a statement Tuesday that the funding comes through the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
Work underway to increase Amherst’s housing stock
GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 2/23/2021 12:12:29 PM
AMHERST Initial proposals to make several changes to town zoning, with a focus on ways to add housing for people of all income levels, are expected to be brought forward for review in the coming weeks.
Planning Director Christine Brestrup and Building Commissioner Rob Morra informed the Town Council on Monday that the first phase of draft zoning adjustments, prioritized by the Town Council earlier this year to promote what is known as infill development, should be ready for the Community Resources Committee’s March 9 meeting.
That will begin a process of hearings and gathering input from the community, setting the stage for the Town Council to vote on the zoning changes, likely in June.