Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/19/2022
NORTHAMPTON – The Northampton City Council decided to hold off on a vote involving the rezoning of 130 Pine St. during their July 14 meeting.
The goal with this parcel, which currently houses the Florence Congregational Church (FCC) and Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, is to rezone it from urban residence – which it is now – to office industrial.
Essentially, the city is looking to expand the office industrial zone just south of Florence Center so that it includes the FCC property. With this change, Bombyx – which uses the space now in conjunction with the church – could conduct events that otherwise would not be allowed under the urban residence zoning.
According to Carolyn Misch, the interim director of Planning & Sustainability, the religious uses that are occupying the building now will stay intact, regardless of the zoning change.
“The reason behind this [zoning change] is to help facilitate the reuse and the future viability of this historic building by allowing an expanded range of uses that could happen on this property,” said Misch.
After accruing positive recommendations from the city’s Planning Board, Community Resources Committee, and Legislative Matters, the full City Council decided that more information on the matter needs to be provided before they meet again for a special meeting and vote in a couple of weeks. The date for that meeting was not determined, as of press time, but they want the vote to occur before their next scheduled meeting on Aug. 18.
Background
Laudable Productions, the music and live event producer in Easthampton, acquired the FCC property late in 2021 and turned it into Bombyx, a multi-purpose performance venue and arts center that houses live music, art exhibits, music workshops, community gatherings and more.
Prior to this acquisition, the FCC spent several years searching for a buyer for the property that would allow them to remain in place and also allow the existing tenants – the Cloverfield Preschool and Beit Ahavah synagogue – to also remain. The reason for this is because the congregation was shrinking in size, and the work and expense of maintaining the property was beyond them financially.
To alleviate this stress, Bombyx came in and agreed to a 6 ½ year lease with the FCC.
Once that lease is up, the FCC will have a 99-year lease which will enable them to remain on the site.
“[The lease] was critical for them, but it’s also critical to part of our commitment to that remaining sacred space and multi-use space,” said Cassandra Holden, the creative director for Laudable Productions. “Our project has been to develop a business plan that enlivens that area but also generates enough revenue to support the physical structure and all of the work that needs to take place to maintain that in perpetuity.”
Much of Bombyx’s plan with the space include arts programming, as well as creating a collaborative commercial kitchen by renovating the one on site. “The combination of creating rehearsal and rental space for meetings and other activities, bringing the arts into the project, and then also bringing this commercial kitchen into this project, mean there are essentially three sources of revenue to support this building,” said Holden. “The rezoning is critical … both to enable arts and entertainment, but also to enable us to operate the commercial kitchen.”
City Council discussion
During the Community Resources Committee meeting on June 27, Misch recommended what is called a development agreement with Bombyx to allow the building to create income and revenue that helps permanently protect the building. The development agreement would stipulate that an historic preservation restriction would be put in place, as well.
When speaking during the July 14 City Council meeting, Misch stated that the details of the development agreement and historic preservation restriction had not been reached yet, as of press time. Without the development agreement, Bombyx would not be compliant with zoning.
Part of the Council understanding the development agreement will also include understanding the ramifications of other pieces of enforcement addressed by abutting residents including issues surrounding noise and parking. According to Misch, these issues could be addressed through the licensing process.
Ward 7 City Councilor Rachel Maiore said she and Ward 5 Councilor Alex Jarrett had met with residents and people of Bombyx and found talks between both parties to be congenial.
“I am a big fan of Bombyx, and I love that space,” said Maiore. “The timing’s really about having community understanding and a development agreement in place.”
Jarrett, whose ward features the Bombyx location, said he “very much supports Bombyx’s mission,” as well as the historic preservation of the church. “I understand the desire to delay to give more time for neighbors to engage this change, but I also understand Bombyx’s needs for income,” said Jarrett. “This zoning change will assist them greatly.”