I am amazed by how quickly 2011 has passed. While unprecedented weather was probably the most dominant story of the year, as a City Councilor, I will remember 2011 as a year where several milestones were met on projects vital to the resurgence of our downtown. The reconstruction of streets and parking lots and pre-development preparations for the long-vacant JJ Newberry’s hole represent a renewed and firm commitment by city government to our historic core district. More importantly, a new generation of entrepreneurs has taken a chance on our city, and for that we should all be grateful.
This month, the doors are set to open on two new downtown restaurants. Emma’s Everyday Gourmet opened on Washington Street earlier this month and the early reviews are overwhelmingly positive. This, of course, should be no surprise as it is managed by Emily Sesti, daughter of Gianpaolo and Donna Sesti, formerly of Piccolo’s. The new spot provides a much-needed mix of gourmet dishes and casual atmosphere at an affordable price. Even more, for people like me, who aren’t able to get away from home as often as we once could, all items on the menu are also available for take-out. Congratulations, Emily.
Second, Paddy’s Irish Pub is also set to open in the coming weeks at the former Piccolo’s site at 110 Elm Street. Personally, I am very excited for this addition to Westfield’s entertainment portfolio. Since Davio’s and Touchdown’s Sports Bar closed five years ago, my friends and I have been waiting for a sports bar in Downtown Westfield. Having been to Mr. Dineen and Mr. Murphy’s other locations in Amherst and Springfield, I am confident their concept will fit perfectly in Westfield. Welcome and congratulations!
Earlier this month, the City Council voted to allow Mayor Knapik to enter into an agreement with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority to conduct a feasibility study relative to the development of the concept of an intermodal transportation center in the Arnold Street area. For more than ten years now, this project has gone through many fits and starts. This has been maddening for all of us who have been involved. I am hopeful that this final study will provide us with a final directive as to what is possible on this block. We owe the property owners and business owners in that zone swift action on this study and a very quick decision on direction immediately thereafter.
Redevelopment projects like this are extremely complicated and costly. This reality should not serve as an excuse for delay, but as an incentive for priority status. In order for our downtown to take the next step, we must address the aesthetic ugliness of the stretch from the vacant Newberry’s lot to the corner of Arnold and Elm Street. This is the most visible block on Elm Street and sandwiches well-maintained buildings owned by Park Square Realty, Dr. Keenan, and the Westfield Gas & Electric.
As we debated this project at our last City Council meeting, I recalled playing in a youth soccer game at Cross Street field and seeing the smoke as the Newberry’s fire raged that Saturday morning almost thirty years ago. If the private-sector saw this project as viable on its own merits, something certainly would have happened by now. I have not met anyone who believes the status-quo on that block is acceptable, so logic dictates that government participation is necessary in order to advance the public’s interest in developing that block.
Investment in our city’s off-street parking lots is also a step in the right direction for downtown. With the recently completed Thomas Street parking lot reconstruction, 40 additional spaces were added to accommodate customers and employees for downtown businesses.
As the recently installed Chairman of the Off-Street Parking Commission, I am proud of the work the Commission, the Engineering Department, and other partners have put into addressing parking issues this year. We are pleased that we now have so many cars using our lots, but this increased usage has forced us to bring back parking enforcement and a sticker program to make sure our lots are being used properly. With 165 permits issued to Westfield State University students living on Thomas Street and in anticipation of an additional 200 next school year, the Commission is working hard to make sure downtown businesses have ample parking for customers and employees. The sticker program, while not popular with everybody, is necessary as property owners and other agencies work to market our downtown as a great place to set up shop. For details on the parking program, this goes into effect on January 1st, please visit:
http://www.cityofwestfield.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Parking-Permit-Regulations-1.pdf
Lastly, I’d like to again thank the citizens of Ward 3 for the confidence they’ve placed in me to serve as your Ward Councilor. I look forward to starting a new term on Tuesday, January 4th with the inauguration ceremony at Westfield Vocational-Technical High School. The ceremony begins at 9:30 am and I would encourage you to attend. Happy New Year!
