Published on GazetteNET (http://www.gazettenet.com)
Cafe owners cite promise to be 'kept whole'
By Daily Hampshire Gazette
Created 12/01/2009 - 10:00
To the editor:
We strongly disagree with the Nov. 25 editorial "Cafe's fight isn't city's." The city of Northampton and the mayor should most certainly be involved in a solution to help keep the Green Street Cafe alive.
We think it is apparent that Smith College President Carol Christ has enlisted the help of Mayor Clare Higgins in forcing us into financial ruin through tactics to remove us from the neighborhood to make way for the new Ford Hall.
Their activities over the past few years have led to a deterioration of our business to the point that a court battle over our lease is not one that we want or are able to afford. They have violated the terms of our lease and current zoning laws, removed our parking and are winning the battle to choke our business to death.
However, over 3,000 citizens signed our petition asking for the city's intervention with Smith and the City Council also has voted to help seek a solution. Before the construction of Ford Hall began, we were told we would be "kept whole."
Instead, Smith has succeeded in ruining our business, which has served the Northampton community for more than 20 yeas.
We are appealing to the city once again and to Smith College to make good on their promise.
John Sielski
Jim Dozmati
Green Street Cafe owners
Northampton
Daily Hampshire Gazette © 2008 All rights reserved
Source URL: http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/01/cafe-owners-cite-promise-be-kept-whole
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Daily Hampshire Gazette - Letter to the Editor by Michael Bardsley
Published on GazetteNET (http://www.gazettenet.com)
Mayor has clear role in play in Green Street Cafe survival
By Daily Hampshire Gazette
Created 12/01/2009 - 10:00
To the editor:
The Gazette editorial of Nov. 25 made an argument that would have been compelling in most instances involving local government and conflicts between private entities.
However, one significant fact was overlooked by the Gazette editorial staff. On Aug. 17, 2005, Mayor Higgins and Smith College President Christ signed a legally binding development agreement that addressed several issues regarding the area bordered by Green Street, Belmont Avenue and West Street. Item three of this agreement directly relates to the current situation involving the Green Street Cafe. It reads as follows:
3: Commercial Tenants - The COLLEGE will negotiate payment of relocation or transition assistance, on a case-by-case basis, with commercial tenants in the Area affected by termination or non-renewal of leases. If a commercial tenant requests participation by the CITY in the negotiations, the COLLEGE will include the CITY in the negotiations.
The owners of the Green Street Cafe have asked the city, via a petition as well as the City Council's public comment session, to become involved in its current negotiations with Smith College. The new business item passed at the last council meeting simply asks the mayor and the economic development director to act in the spirit as well as the letter of that legal agreement. The council's action could help the city avoid another costly lawsuit.
The argument that the mayor, "should not be asked to set aside pressing city business and wade into a commercial dispute ..." may be solid reasoning as to why such an agreement should not have been crafted in the first place. However, since the mayor took the initiative to enter into this contract (which was never approved by the City Council) with Smith, the city, I believe, has the responsibility to fulfill its obligations.
Michael Bardsley
At-Large city councilor
Northampton
Daily Hampshire Gazette © 2008 All rights reserved
Source URL: http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/01/mayor-has-clear-role-play-green-street-cafe-survival
Mayor has clear role in play in Green Street Cafe survival
By Daily Hampshire Gazette
Created 12/01/2009 - 10:00
To the editor:
The Gazette editorial of Nov. 25 made an argument that would have been compelling in most instances involving local government and conflicts between private entities.
However, one significant fact was overlooked by the Gazette editorial staff. On Aug. 17, 2005, Mayor Higgins and Smith College President Christ signed a legally binding development agreement that addressed several issues regarding the area bordered by Green Street, Belmont Avenue and West Street. Item three of this agreement directly relates to the current situation involving the Green Street Cafe. It reads as follows:
3: Commercial Tenants - The COLLEGE will negotiate payment of relocation or transition assistance, on a case-by-case basis, with commercial tenants in the Area affected by termination or non-renewal of leases. If a commercial tenant requests participation by the CITY in the negotiations, the COLLEGE will include the CITY in the negotiations.
The owners of the Green Street Cafe have asked the city, via a petition as well as the City Council's public comment session, to become involved in its current negotiations with Smith College. The new business item passed at the last council meeting simply asks the mayor and the economic development director to act in the spirit as well as the letter of that legal agreement. The council's action could help the city avoid another costly lawsuit.
The argument that the mayor, "should not be asked to set aside pressing city business and wade into a commercial dispute ..." may be solid reasoning as to why such an agreement should not have been crafted in the first place. However, since the mayor took the initiative to enter into this contract (which was never approved by the City Council) with Smith, the city, I believe, has the responsibility to fulfill its obligations.
Michael Bardsley
At-Large city councilor
Northampton
Daily Hampshire Gazette © 2008 All rights reserved
Source URL: http://www.gazettenet.com/2009/12/01/mayor-has-clear-role-play-green-street-cafe-survival
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