Final Presentation by - University of Massachusetts Amherst

35 Pages·2014·2.43 MB·English

by  George Smith

11/5/14
UMASS / TOWN OF AMHERST
HOUSING & ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PLAN

FINAL PRESENTATION

TOWN GOWN STEERING COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
AGENDA
Work to Date
Final Recommendations
•  Site & Program
•  Development Mechanisms
•  Innovation Economy
•  Organization
Implementation Steps
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WORK TO DATE
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SUMMARY: ANALYSIS
•  Amherst’s economic and residential growth is driven by UMass
•  Local housing supply is not keeping pace with demand, including student demand
•  Both economic opportunity and lack of housing is contributing to the decline in the young
workforce
•  Development constraints (available land, zoning, approval process) are contributing to the
imbalance between UMass and Amherst
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SUMMARY: OBSERVATIONS
UMass and Amherst have physically disconnected and disengaged over time
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SUMMARY: OBSERVATIONS
Lack of forums encouraging collaboration between UMass and Amherst
(although the Amherst Business Improvement District is one)
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SUMMARY: OBSERVATIONS
Many levels of positive interrelationships between UMass and Amherst
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PRELIMINARY
RECOMMENDATIONS
Mixed use development with housing for
students and retail
Foster local start-up and
entrepreneurial community
Shared approach towards future
development
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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
Received feedback for Agust 4th TGSC meeting via emails and letters
•  Housing:
o  Concern for student impact on nearby neighborhoods
o  Tension between wanting to remove unruly student behavior and connect energy to Downtown
o  Importance of housing affordabilty
•  Economic development
o  Desire for tax revenue
o  Need for a year round population
o  Desire for more dining options
o  Need for entrepreneurial space
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STUDENT FEEDBACK
•  Little incentive to utilize Downtown
o  Pre-paid, excellent dining options on campus
o  Doesn’t have the same appeal as a Northampton or larger Downtown
o  Proximity is an issue
o  Recommended special events as an excellent way to attract more student activity
•  Would welcome higher quality housing, but affordability is an issue
o  Belief that off-campus housing is more affordable than on-campus housing
o  Student group homes will always be desirable
•  Desire by Greek Life to use a housing cluster as a means of legitimizing their organizations
o  Can create a new social hub for the University, compliant with University regulations, away from neighborhoods
o  May address some of the off-campus party conflicts
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FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
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FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS
SITE & PROGRAM

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WHERE IS THE
OVERLAP
Walking Zones
Intersection of Zones
Campus Core
0.5 Mile Buffer
0.75 Mile Buffer
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FOCUS AREA
•  Within close proximity of campus
core and village center / downtown
•  On UMass owned land
•  Undeveloped / underdeveloped sites
•  Appropriate for a mix of housing

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FOCUS AREA
M A S S A V E
MASS AVE
MASS AVE.
N
O
R
T
H
P
LE
A
S
A
N
PHILLIPS STREET T STR
E
E
T
Ownership
Owned by Individuals FEARING STREET
Owned by Entities
Parking Lots
UMass Property
Buildings
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MASS AVE
UMASS
ALTERNATIVE 1 MAIN
ENTRY
• Mixed Use with graduate and
upper-classman housing
• sAtcatritv-eu pfi r/s tre fsloeoarr cwhi tshp bacleen adn odf MASS AVE. PEDESTRIAN WAY
retail
• Mass Ave. as “Main Street” with INCNENOTVEART ION N
O
dynamic small scale uses guide R
students coming from campus TH P
south along North Pleasant LEAS
A
Street NT S
TR
EET
FEARING STREET
MASS AVE
UMASS
ALTERNATIVE 2 MEANITNR Y
• Mixed Use with graduate and
upper-classman housing
• Active first floor with blend of MASS AVE.
start-up / research space and INTERNAL STREET
retail
• A“Mvea.i nw iStthr edeytn”a smoiuct hs mofa lMl sacsasl e INCNENOTVEART ION NO
R
uses guide students coming TH P
from campus south along North LEA
Pleasant Street SA
N
• Neighborhood grid complete and T STR
made “public” to eliminate dead EET
end streets
FEARING STREET
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FOCUS AREA
UNIVERSITY DRIVE
STUDENT VILLAGE
UNIVERSITY DRIVE MASS AVE.
U
N
IV
E
R
S
IT
Y
D
R
IV
E

OOwwnender bsyh iIpn dividuals FEARING STREET
OPawrnkeindg b Lyo Etsn tities MUIDATS
UMass Property EVIRD
Buildings
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