Opinion: A Sustainable Downtown Design for Amherst

Local and Green

In the last month, Amherst officials have been inviting the public to weigh in on downtown design standards.

Listening and visioning sessions were held and a survey was made available to residents. Because an Amherst downtown of the future will have to respond to our climate action goals, the buildings, streetscape, amenities, and infrastructure in general, will need to be climate friendly and resilient.

Back in 2019, I wrote “The New Paradigm” in a two part series, dreaming of what Amherst will look like in 2030 that readers can find here and here, We have accomplished a few of the elements of that dream but have much more to do. 

Let’s focus the dream on downtown.  It’s 2030 in Amherst …

First off, downtown buildings. In 2023, the town adopted the specialized opt-in building code, a great move for the sustainability of new construction. In 2030, I see buildings with electric heat and hot water, powered by renewable energy, and built to last, with sustainable, local materials (like hempcrete or other concrete alternatives) and with greenspace and balconies providing outdoor space for families. 

Solar power is available on roof tops and parking lots where possible. Geothermal networks and solar  powered microgrids among groups of buildings are being planned and constructed. Both Amherst College, and UMass are partnering and providing funds for major, far-reaching downtown sustainability projects aimed at long-term climate resilience.

Building owners are providing parking for bicycles, the availability of rideshare, and EV charging.

Both the town and building owners have backup generators or energy storage in case the power goes out. The town has resilience hubs planned for both the new firehouse and the new DPW, for times of extreme heat or cold. 

Bikeability and walkability of the downtown area are nearly achieved. We have protected bike lanes and routes through town and an expansion of Valley Bike offerings. The town has worked with the PVTA to double the bus routes and has successfully achieved not just student but town resident ridership by doing so. A townwide school campaign has also quadrupled the number of students using school buses. 

Because the town has adopted a single use plastic bylaw, restaurants either provide reusable or compostable containers and utensils for take out. They are participating in the town waste hauler contract, including composting their food waste. There is a competition among businesses for recognition of their degree of waste reduction. There are trash, recycling and compost stations and water stations for refilling water bottles.

Downtown businesses have been assessed for energy consumption and Valley Green Energy is working with the large consumers of electricity to conserve energy.

Town trees are protected by law and more have been planted. Parks and greenspaces are also protected. 

The BID provides native pollinator species of plants in the pots provided to beautify the town. The DPW uses only pollinator friendly products on roadsides and parks. Public and private rain gardens are used to conserve water and to protect our stormwater system.

The aesthetics and liveability of downtown for year round residents are different topics but also important. There is apparent consensus that we have more than enough monolithic buildings housing college undergrads downtown and that we need housing, and amenities for families and low income folks –  and space and support for a variety of new businesses.  

Let’s model throughout the downtown the historic look of the strip in front of the former Hastings (pictured in Amherst public relations generally). That strip of buildings has a very generous set back from the street capable of handling a strolling family, wheelchairs, sidewalk cafes, bike racks, street musicians and shade trees. Preserving the historic character of the town will support tourism.  Also, preservation maximizes the use of existing materials and infrastructure, and reduces waste.

Let’s make the dream of sustainability and liveability downtown a reality. What would you like to have happen in Amherst’s downtown?

Darcy DuMont is a former town councilor and sponsor of the legislation creating the Amherst Energy and Climate Action Committee. She is a founding member of Zero Waste Amherst, Local Energy Advocates of Western MA, and the Amherst Climate Justice Alliance and a non-voting member of Valley Green Energy Working Group. She can be contacted at dumint140@gmail.com.