Great idea, worong site. Think Bill Densmore has made a wonderful proposal.
D
Donald Beaver
10 years ago
The proposed location for a new building will destroy the character of the entrance to Southworth Street, and the remaining "forest", not to mention adding new parking and traffic. The new WCMA needs to be more conveniently located than the historically valuable residential properties is currently designed to raze.
A
Ann McCallum
10 years ago
The scale of this seems way out of place!
R
Richard De Veaux
10 years ago
Here's Ralph's comment: Any planning for a possible new art museum should be done within the context of a comprehensive long run plan for how best to utilize the college’s existing buildings and land, including but not limited to buildings in the vicinity of the current art museum that might be repurposed. This planning should take into account not just any possible impact on the surrounding community, but also the implications of any construction/renovation on the college’s greenhouse gas footprint. At each stage of the planning process for a museum, or any other structure or activity, the college should ask: “Is this activity critical to the core academic mission of the college?”
A
Andrew Munzer
10 years ago
Why are educational institutions exempt? That is so bogus.
S
Sue Wells
10 years ago
89 Stratton Road
J
James Martin
10 years ago
I have worked in and for art museums throughout the United States for thirty years, and have been an adjunct at Williams for over twenty years. I consider the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) an asset to our community. WCMA has a fine collection and mounts excellent exhibitions, and I would like to think a new location would improve attendance.
I have lived a stone's throw from the proposed site since 1996, and in that time have seen countless families walk to and from school and trick-or-treat. I have watched Fourth of July parades pass, and have seen deer, foxes, skunks, and an occasional bear cross Southworth Street from the wooded area behind the proposed site. I consider my neighborhood and the others that ring Williams College property an asset to the college.
For many reasons, I do not see the wisdom in locating a new art museum and offices on the corner of Southworth and Main Streets. Perhaps the most practical reason, which has implications that extend beyond my neighborhood -- extend even farther than light from the new Stetson-Sawyer Library at 3 a.m. -- are the problems posed by increased vehicular traffic (including tractor-trailers that ship works of art) -- at that corner. Southworth and Main Streets meet at the base of one of the steepest road grades in town, which on rainy, snowy, and icy days is treacherous to navigate -- up, down, left, and right -- with and without kids in cars and buses going to and from school -- before the added traffic that would necessarily arise from a new museum and office space.
Surely, there is a safer, more suitable place for the college and community and its residents to grow.
R
Ralph Bradburd
10 years ago
360 Syndicate Road
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
85 Mission Park Drive
T
Tela Zasloff
10 years ago
We Williamstown residents consider where we live, a small town New England community, not just a college community. For the college to expand onto one of our most typical residential streets is a betrayal of the college's often mentioned mission to nurture the unique character of this town.
Tela Zasloff
Bill Densmore's comment is right on:
"Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the
development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less! "
T
Tela Zasloff
10 years ago
We Williamstown residents consider where we live, a small town New England community, not just a college community. For the college to expand onto one of our most typical residential streets is a betrayal of the college's often mentioned mission to nurture the unique character of this town.
Bill Densmore's comment is right on:
"Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the
development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less! "
C
Colleen Judge Martin
10 years ago
As a town member and an elementary school teacher, I will be forever thankful for all Williams has provided to our town. However, I think a different location should be chosen in order to allow our town to keep the beautiful neighborhoods it has.
J
Jane Denitz Smith
10 years ago
Please be a good neighbor.
A
Aruna D'Souza
10 years ago
Williams has made sustainability and environmental concerns a core mission over the last few years, at least publicity wise. How does this rash of building projects fit that mission? If the college really has so much money that it doesn't know what to do with it except build more buildings, I have a few ideas -- including investing in the actual community, instead of slowly devouring it.
T
Toni Petersen
10 years ago
Agree with the petitioners' statement
M
Merry Anderson
10 years ago
As an art teacher, of course I would promote a fabulous new art museum and studio complex. BUT NOT IN THIS LOCATION!
D
David Edwards
10 years ago
548 Northwest Hill Road
J
Jonathan David Krant
10 years ago
Please consider an alternative location
S
Steven Miller
10 years ago
16 John St
B
Bill Densmore
10 years ago
Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the
development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less!
Great idea, worong site. Think Bill Densmore has made a wonderful proposal.
The proposed location for a new building will destroy the character of the entrance to Southworth Street, and the remaining "forest", not to mention adding new parking and traffic. The new WCMA needs to be more conveniently located than the historically valuable residential properties is currently designed to raze.
The scale of this seems way out of place!
Here's Ralph's comment: Any planning for a possible new art museum should be done within the context of a comprehensive long run plan for how best to utilize the college’s existing buildings and land, including but not limited to buildings in the vicinity of the current art museum that might be repurposed. This planning should take into account not just any possible impact on the surrounding community, but also the implications of any construction/renovation on the college’s greenhouse gas footprint. At each stage of the planning process for a museum, or any other structure or activity, the college should ask: “Is this activity critical to the core academic mission of the college?”
Why are educational institutions exempt? That is so bogus.
89 Stratton Road
I have worked in and for art museums throughout the United States for thirty years, and have been an adjunct at Williams for over twenty years. I consider the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) an asset to our community. WCMA has a fine collection and mounts excellent exhibitions, and I would like to think a new location would improve attendance. I have lived a stone's throw from the proposed site since 1996, and in that time have seen countless families walk to and from school and trick-or-treat. I have watched Fourth of July parades pass, and have seen deer, foxes, skunks, and an occasional bear cross Southworth Street from the wooded area behind the proposed site. I consider my neighborhood and the others that ring Williams College property an asset to the college. For many reasons, I do not see the wisdom in locating a new art museum and offices on the corner of Southworth and Main Streets. Perhaps the most practical reason, which has implications that extend beyond my neighborhood -- extend even farther than light from the new Stetson-Sawyer Library at 3 a.m. -- are the problems posed by increased vehicular traffic (including tractor-trailers that ship works of art) -- at that corner. Southworth and Main Streets meet at the base of one of the steepest road grades in town, which on rainy, snowy, and icy days is treacherous to navigate -- up, down, left, and right -- with and without kids in cars and buses going to and from school -- before the added traffic that would necessarily arise from a new museum and office space. Surely, there is a safer, more suitable place for the college and community and its residents to grow.
360 Syndicate Road
85 Mission Park Drive
We Williamstown residents consider where we live, a small town New England community, not just a college community. For the college to expand onto one of our most typical residential streets is a betrayal of the college's often mentioned mission to nurture the unique character of this town. Tela Zasloff Bill Densmore's comment is right on: "Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less! "
We Williamstown residents consider where we live, a small town New England community, not just a college community. For the college to expand onto one of our most typical residential streets is a betrayal of the college's often mentioned mission to nurture the unique character of this town. Bill Densmore's comment is right on: "Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less! "
As a town member and an elementary school teacher, I will be forever thankful for all Williams has provided to our town. However, I think a different location should be chosen in order to allow our town to keep the beautiful neighborhoods it has.
Please be a good neighbor.
Williams has made sustainability and environmental concerns a core mission over the last few years, at least publicity wise. How does this rash of building projects fit that mission? If the college really has so much money that it doesn't know what to do with it except build more buildings, I have a few ideas -- including investing in the actual community, instead of slowly devouring it.
Agree with the petitioners' statement
As an art teacher, of course I would promote a fabulous new art museum and studio complex. BUT NOT IN THIS LOCATION!
548 Northwest Hill Road
Please consider an alternative location
16 John St
Why don't they propose building it on the old Town Garage site on Water Street? It could be integrated with a little retail and a parking garage that could facilitate a connection to Spring Street. If it were tall enough, there could even be a pedestrian walkway across to the studio art building. I rent an office right next door to that site but I'd favor it. That site has also been proposed for affordable housing so maybe that could be part of the development. College gets the land from the town in exchange for a commitment to include some residential development -- mixing residential with Spring Street and art is a sound urban-planning strategy. And it would avoid creating a new crush of pedestrian traffic back and forth across Main Street -- on a hill, no less!