WESTFIELD – The City Council conducted a public hearing Jan. 21 on whether to grant a junk dealer’s and collector’s licenses to Thang Dac Bui, who owns HCT Second Hand Inc., at 68 Court St.
Bui told the council the shop plans to buy and sell second-hand goods. The bought items would be cleaned up and resold. He was asked if the store would also be a pawn shop. He said the merchandise would be similar to items sold in a pawn shop.
If the licenses are granted, the second-hand business, located across from the YMCA of Greater Westfield, would be the first for Bui.
Ruth Murphy, of 154 Noble Ave., asked Bui what specific items the shop would be selling. She also had concerns about parking in the area. He explained to Murphy that HCT will buy items considered junk by sellers.
The store would also have a consignment component. Customers can park on a side street or in three parking spaces in the rear of the building, said Bui.
Murphy casually turned and asked the chamber if anyone else had questions for Bui, which triggered a round of laughter. City Council President Brent Bean II told the public the council was only considering questions of fact.
Later in the hearing, Murphy said she objected to a junk dealer opening at the location.
“I don’t believe it should be in the Court Street area, which is an old, historical part of Westfield, which, I think, should be kept that way,” she said.
Charles Smith, of 7 Noble Ave., two houses away from the proposed store, said his concerns center around parking, especially when on-street parking is dominated by YMCA members.
He also said he was worried about street clearance for trucks, trash and recyclable pickup and whether chemicals would be involved in restoring old furniture.
Bui believed parking on the side street and the three assigned parking spaces should be adequate. He does not see the need for using chemicals or other hazardous materials on site.
At-large Councilor Dan Allie asked Bui if the building was predominantly commercial. Bui said a tenant continues to live on the third floor while the first and second floors remain commercial. HCT has no current plans for the second floor.
Bui added he cannot determine parking needs until the business opens. HCT purchased the property two months ago. Several councilor expressed concerns over about parking and whether a second-hand shop was a good fit for the neighborhood.
Bui told At-large Councilor Matt VanHeynigen he expects the store to be open from early morning to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Bean said the discussion centers around parking and a retail establishment opening in former office space. If granted, the council would likely impose conditions on the license, he said. He recommended Bui submit a list of items the store would buy and sell.
No one from the public spoke in favor of the licenses.
James McCarthy, a Feeding Hills resident, strongly opposed granting the licenses. He owns properties in Westfield,, including properties near the proposed shop. For 18 years he owned 68 Court St. before he sold the property eight years ago.
“Evidently, someone didn’t do their homework when they bought this property,” he said.
McCarthy owns a parcel that abuts 68 Court St. and said HCT only has one allotted parking spot and not three. The third-floor tenant uses the space.
“Right now, he’s parked in my lot,” said McCarthy, who pointed at Bui. “Their cars are in my lot. I’m not going to grant them permission to park in my lot. They have one off-street parking spot. I don’t think it’s the place for this kind of business and I’m opposed.”
McCarthy said he plans to remove a parking sign at the location.
The applicaant will next appear before the License Commission.
