What's wrong with the site of the Williams Inn? It's available, highly visible, and would allow Southworth to retain its essential character.
J
James Martin
10 years ago
See Bill Densmore's story about yesterday's fora: http://newshare.typepad.com/greylocknews/.
A
ANN SCOTT
10 years ago
There is no question that WCMA needs and deserves a much better, bigger building. Also, there is no question that to get rid of that ugly beigey/pink building would be a blessing. However, that being said it is never a good idea to tear down houses, ruining a neighborhood. Right now there is no town in Williamstown...it's a sprawly town-eating college. Spring St is all you have and it ain't much. I'm surprised that no one planned for it to expand on Meachem St across from Water St Books, that area is just a super ugly sprawl that's "sort of" a parking lot. Seems to me that is a perfect place for a large modern museum with parking underneath - then connect it up with walkways to Spring Street, keep that area energized.
C
Charles Bonenti
10 years ago
This is a poor choice of location for a building of this size and use. It will change the character of the neighborhood, disturbing its residential quality; generate unwelcome traffic; and remove a number of inventoried historic structures that have made Main Street eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are other campus sites available to the college not so disruptive to the village.
N
Nicholas Wright
10 years ago
I had understood that the current space in Lawrence Hall was more than adequate for WCMA's teaching function at the College. Is the issue primarily Faculty office space ? Storage space? Has the site of the now vacant President's house been considered as a possible site? If that central, hill top location has been rejected, and the project can be defended as absolutely necessary, I favor the former Town garage site behind Spencer on Water Street, or perhaps on the golf course behind the former Weston Field...
A
Antonia Foias
10 years ago
The town garage site should be investigated as it is a better site for the art museum, and it would reinvigorate Water Street.
J
Juliana Haubrich
10 years ago
Of special concern to me is the historic tree on this site. So many beautiful large trees have been removed for college buildings, I would hate to see another one go.
J
Joan Edwards
10 years ago
We have so few real neighborhoods in Williamstown. It would be a shame to infringe on the Southworth Street neighborhood.
A
Adam Calogeras
10 years ago
They don't have the right to destroy Earth.
C
Christine Pash
10 years ago
While I'd love more arts educational programming at Williams, I agree with Sarah that new buildings are not the best solution to this problem because of the environmental problems they cause.
R
Richard De Veaux
10 years ago
It's America. Bigger is always better.....
S
Sarah Vukelich
10 years ago
This is not just a Southworth St. problem. This is about expansion of the college with no end in site--there are over 15 building projects in the works right now. We are spending far too much money that could be put towards things like financial aid, and we're enormously increasing our carbon footprint while we greenwash our image.
H
Heather Williams
10 years ago
Why not use the large empty expanse of gravel below the studio arts building, on Water Street, and improve that area rather than so dramatically changing the character of Southworth?
C
Caroline Atwood
10 years ago
concrete=1.4 pounds of CO2 per pound produced
steel=4.0 pounds of Co2 per pound produced.
I could go on but....
excessive construction = high carbon outputs. williams college has got to cool it.
N
Nikki caravelli
10 years ago
What is the reasoning behind needing the building in the first place? What is wrong with Lawrence other than it being kinda old in some parts?
K
Ken Swiatek
10 years ago
Wiliams College has become another of those dreaded faceless corporations, putting business and its obsession with being #1 above good citizenship and even education.
67 cummings ave
A double standard has been in play for too long.
84 Summer St, Williamstown
Don't mess with it!
What's wrong with the site of the Williams Inn? It's available, highly visible, and would allow Southworth to retain its essential character.
See Bill Densmore's story about yesterday's fora: http://newshare.typepad.com/greylocknews/.
There is no question that WCMA needs and deserves a much better, bigger building. Also, there is no question that to get rid of that ugly beigey/pink building would be a blessing. However, that being said it is never a good idea to tear down houses, ruining a neighborhood. Right now there is no town in Williamstown...it's a sprawly town-eating college. Spring St is all you have and it ain't much. I'm surprised that no one planned for it to expand on Meachem St across from Water St Books, that area is just a super ugly sprawl that's "sort of" a parking lot. Seems to me that is a perfect place for a large modern museum with parking underneath - then connect it up with walkways to Spring Street, keep that area energized.
This is a poor choice of location for a building of this size and use. It will change the character of the neighborhood, disturbing its residential quality; generate unwelcome traffic; and remove a number of inventoried historic structures that have made Main Street eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. There are other campus sites available to the college not so disruptive to the village.
I had understood that the current space in Lawrence Hall was more than adequate for WCMA's teaching function at the College. Is the issue primarily Faculty office space ? Storage space? Has the site of the now vacant President's house been considered as a possible site? If that central, hill top location has been rejected, and the project can be defended as absolutely necessary, I favor the former Town garage site behind Spencer on Water Street, or perhaps on the golf course behind the former Weston Field...
The town garage site should be investigated as it is a better site for the art museum, and it would reinvigorate Water Street.
Of special concern to me is the historic tree on this site. So many beautiful large trees have been removed for college buildings, I would hate to see another one go.
We have so few real neighborhoods in Williamstown. It would be a shame to infringe on the Southworth Street neighborhood.
They don't have the right to destroy Earth.
While I'd love more arts educational programming at Williams, I agree with Sarah that new buildings are not the best solution to this problem because of the environmental problems they cause.
It's America. Bigger is always better.....
This is not just a Southworth St. problem. This is about expansion of the college with no end in site--there are over 15 building projects in the works right now. We are spending far too much money that could be put towards things like financial aid, and we're enormously increasing our carbon footprint while we greenwash our image.
Why not use the large empty expanse of gravel below the studio arts building, on Water Street, and improve that area rather than so dramatically changing the character of Southworth?
concrete=1.4 pounds of CO2 per pound produced steel=4.0 pounds of Co2 per pound produced. I could go on but.... excessive construction = high carbon outputs. williams college has got to cool it.
What is the reasoning behind needing the building in the first place? What is wrong with Lawrence other than it being kinda old in some parts?
Wiliams College has become another of those dreaded faceless corporations, putting business and its obsession with being #1 above good citizenship and even education.