Merchants Have Plans for Summer Street
 |
| Summer Street, Adams, looking north. |
Roger Hassan, co-owner of Colleen's Sweet Treats and Gifts, formed a group of eight Summer Street businesses last month, hoping to create a merchants' association of sorts.
"We're trying to figure out ways where we can help each other out, help each other's businesses and make Summer Street profitable again," said Hassan, co-chairman of the group.
Though the group is newly formed, the businesses have already held discussions with members of the Board of Selectmen and Director of Community Development Donna Cesan about the town's community development plan for the street.
The proposal, which calls for more trees and wider sidewalks along the street, aims to revitalize Summer Street much like past projects have concentrated on improving Park Street.
One major sticking point for the merchants is the proposed removal of parking on one side of the street.
"They wanted to take away some of our parking and we don't have enough as it is," said Hassan.
<L2>According to the Chop Shop's Kathy Riello, the group's other chairman, creating small parking areas in the neighborhood are a possibility.
"We're trying to find little spots where we can make parking areas," she said. "The idea came up because some people didn't like the idea of widening the sidewalk and putting in trees and benches. They're concerned about the width of the street."
Selectman Joseph Solomon, who was been in contact with the group since its inception, said parking on Winter Street might be a possibility and that both the business owners and the Selectmen are working to explore more options.
"We're working together to get some advice from them for the whole redesign of Summer Street and we're waiting to hear back from them to see what we can do to help promote them," Solomon said.
Hassan and Riello said the group's main goal is to draw focus back to their part of town, an area they say is in sore need of attention.
"When you go to Selectmen meetings, they talk about Park Street, they talk about downtown development. And Summer Street is sort of failing. We want to upgrade it but we're not sure what the town wants to do," said Hassan.
Other businesses working in collaboration with Hassan and Riello are Jeepers Creepers, Monarch Realty, Lori-Els Beauty Salon and The Grille Restaurant, among others.
"We all have concerns about how Summer Street looks and we all want to see it revitalized and brought back to life. It's easy to forget that there's a business district here, too," Riello said. "The idea is to get everyone together and talk about what we need."
The first step in the right direction, the business owners say, is finding creative ways to attract people to the shops and other businesses along the street. Just a month into preparations, the group already has concrete plans to host a street fair in mid-June to introduce residents to their neighborhood, just in time to usher in another warm Berkshire summer.
"We're calling it the 'Summer Street Summer Kick-Off,'" Hassan said.
The fair will feature street vendors, music and appearances by Custom City Cycles and the police and fire departments as well as a chance to meet the owners of the street's businesses.
Solomon said the Selectmen are overjoyed to see business owners taking a proactive role in helping to improve the community.
"It's really nice that people in town are getting together to make changes. The great part about Adams is the people here. When they want something done, they come together and get it done," said Solomon. "This group is going to step in and make a difference."
