Letter: Seeking AG Opinion on Amherst’s Jumbo ADU’s
The following letter was sent to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Amherst Town Manager Paul...
Ira Bryck
A Brief History of Amherst Housing – What’s Worked and What Has Not
By Ira Bryck and Art Keene This analysis was prepared with the assistance of Perplexity...
Letter: Amherst’s Jumbo ADUs Not Allowed in Deerfield’s New Bylaw
As highlighted in a story in today’s (7/28/26) Daily Hampshire Gazette, Deerfield’s proposed accessory dwelling unit...
State’s PILOT Listening Session Highlights Shared Challenges for Amherst and Rural Towns
The state’s Special Commission on Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) held one of its...
Letter: ZBA Should Deny Permits for Oversized ADU’s
The following letter was sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals and to Planning Director...
Letter: UMass Amherst Should Be Part of the State’s PILOT Reimbursement Program
The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Manager and Amherst Town Council on...
Opinion: Could a Fair Rent Pledge Work in Amherst?
The following column was written with the assistance of Perplexity AI. A copy was also...
Opinion: What’s Wrong with the Positive Growth Narrative
Amherst’s “positive growth” narrative, as framed in George Ryan’s recent article in the Amherst Current,...
Letter: It’s Time to Revisit Fieldstone Apartments’ Tax-exempt Status
The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on May 5, 2026. Amherst...
Opinion: Amherst’s Year-Round Residents Deserve a Seat at the Table When UMass Plans Housing
UMass Amherst often cites a reassuring figure: that about 60% of its students live on...
