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City looks to the past and the future with exhibit and report

Date: 8/12/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD -- Think you know Elm Street? Think again.

The Westfield State College Downtown Art Gallery, located at 105 Elm St., hosted the opening reception for its "Westfield Rediscovered: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" show on Aug. 6. The event took place in collaboration with the unveiling of the Re-thinking Downtown Westfield project report.

"We have the images, maps and models of Westfield tomorrow," Faith Lund, director of the art gallery, stated. "The show is very diverse and shows a clear picture of Westfield from many different angles."

The art exhibit showcases photographs of downtown from more than a century ago juxtaposed with contemporary images from David Harris-Fried, Westfield State College's (WSC) campus photographer.

Hand-printed lithograph collages from WSC art professor Pat Conant are also on display. Conant said each collage took about six months to complete.

A WSC faculty member for 40 years, Conant has seen the city change -- and wants to see it change again.

"I definitely think downtown should be renewed," Conant told Reminder Publications. "When I first moved here, there were lots of shops. It was very active and then it slowly died. I want to bring it back. If they [residents of the city] want to bring it back, it will happen."

Based on the number of people who shared their opinions in the Re-thinking Downtown Westfield project, there is some interest in renewing downtown.

The city, in collaboration with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, WSC and the University of Massachusetts Amherst School of Architecture, have been working since February to develop a comprehensive downtown housing and economic development action plan.

The draft report summarizing the project's findings will be available at www.westfielddowntownplan.com through Aug. 20 for public comments before being finalized at the end of the month.

"I think anything we do will be an improvement to downtown," resident Barbara Trant said at the exhibit opening. "It needs to evolve."

Barbara and her husband Tom both participated in the Re-thinking Downtown Westfield project, which had more than 2,000 respondents. Tom has been a resident of the city for 50 years; Barbara, 31 years.

"Westfield is on the cusp ... of success and everything we've ever wanted for our town," Bob Plasse, Assistant to the President, Communications, at WSC and a member of Westfield on Weekends, stated. "The stars have aligned."

He continued that he is proud of Westfield for the work it has done so far on the renewal project and that the excitement has to continue.

"We can't let the energy die around this," Plasse said. "We have to keep this going."

Mayor Michael Boulanger agreed. Two of the options outlined for Elm Street were on display at the exhibit opening, both including arts and retail space.

"People want culture, arts, entertainment downtown," he commented. "This [project] will take its own shape, and it will take time ... This is a very exciting opportunity for Westfield."

All residents are invited to share their input on the draft report at www.westfielddowntownplan.com. The WSC Downtown Art Gallery will be showing the "Westfield Rediscovered" exhibit through Aug. 29.