The Sophian-Editorial - The Green Street Impasse 9.24.09

The situation between Smith College and Green Street Cafe is getting out of hand. The Green Street Cafe was once part of a thriving Green Street commercial area and an important part of Smith community. Not long ago, the college and the cafe; enjoyed a collaborative relationship. Faculty hosted out-of-town professors and meetings at the restaurant, which billed Smith College directly for such events. The cafe was practically part of campus.But since plans for construction of Ford Hall began, businesses along Green Street have shuttered and the relationship between the cafe and the college has turned sour. Smith offered the cafe's owners a small sum to relocate, and when its owners refused the tedious moving process, the college decided to neglect acting as a courteous landlord. Now things are at an impasse with the cafe owing four months' rent to Smith College, its landlord. The Sophian believes that both sides are being a bit childish. The cafe owners seem to be blatantly refusing to pay rent to spite the college. Meanwhile, Smith seems too concerned with future plans for the cafe's 3,000 square feet - a pittance compared to neighboring Ford Hall, nearly 50 times its size - to care about working with the cafe.The college has every right to want its money, but the fact that Smith refused to accept Jan Carhart's offer to pay the rent owed shows the college's true colors. It's not just about the rent. Smith College wants Green Street Cafe out and it's doing what it can to make that happen. The college prides itself in having a good relationship with downtown, especially via the current BID project, but the college is letting a formerly thriving part of Northampton slip away. Smith has watched, and even played a hand in, the demise of businesses along Green Street. Now, it hopes Green Street Cafe will be the latest casualty. If Smith indeed has long-term development plans for the Green Street area, it needs to be honest about its intentions. And if that were the case, the Sophian would nevertheless see the loss of Green Street Cafe as a severe blow to town-gown relations. Really, we just want Smith College and Green Street Cafe to kiss and makeup. We know both sides have acted immaturely over the course of the dispute, but they both have so much to gain from working together. It would be a shame to see that relationship die.
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