Town of Amherst, MA Already Making Plans for Campus of Hampshire College After Closure

Town of Amherst, MA Already Making Plans for Campus of Hampshire College After Closure

They’re probably salivating over the chance to take over the property.

The Athol Daily News reports:

Amherst, MassDevelopment launch Hampshire campus planning effort

As Hampshire College prepares to sell its roughly 800-acre campus, town officials are partnering with MassDevelopment to help shape future development and ensure any redevelopment aligns with community priorities.

Before entering into executive session last Monday to strategize over the possible purchase of Hampshire College property, the Town Council issued a statement, sponsored by four councilors, in support of having revenue-generating ideas for the campus. Hampshire College officials announced in mid-April plans to shut down at the end of the calendar year, though financial complications may force the college to shutter earlier than that.

At-Large Councilor Andy Churchill said the statement signals the town’s key priorities to public bidders. These priorities include buildable land for housing, small business development, habitat protection and the preservation of farming. Some of the property could also be considered for town needs.

“It seems appropriate to have this deliberate process and during our discussion these priorities have emerged fairly generally across the council,” Churchill said.

Town Council also authorized Town Manager Paul Bockelman to work with MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, on a professional analysis.

“The work with the town’s staff will lead to a full community discussion with the town’s boards and elected leaders to plan and guide future development that will align with the town’s overall goals,” Bockelman said in a statement. “We especially appreciate the speed with which MassDevelopment has responded to our needs.”

The planning process will start this month, seeking to create a vision for the developable portions of the campus to bring in property taxes and a variety of housing.

MassDevelopment will provide technical assistance and expertise on the environment, land use and economic development, with services coming from the Horsley Witten Group, Dodson & Flinker and U3 Advisors.

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