A lively New England community is sharply divided over a proposed downtown transformation that would add protected bike lanes but could take as long as five years to complete. Some business owners fear the prolonged construction could push shoppers and diners away.
The debate is unfolding in Northampton, Massachusetts, a city of roughly 31,000 people located about 100 miles west of Boston and widely known as the “Paradise City.”
The $43.3 million project would overhaul Main Street with separated bicycle lanes, fewer parking spaces and narrower roadways. In some sections, the street would shrink from approximately 90 feet wide.
According to the Boston Globe, construction on the first phase of the plan is scheduled to begin in 2028. The full downtown redevelopment, known as Picture Main Street, could take five years to finish.
Robert McGovern, the 81-year-old owner of Packard’s bar, strongly opposes the proposal. He argued that visitors would not cycle into Northampton simply to shop and described the plan as a “kiss of death for downtown.”
“Grandma is not going to be sitting in a … basket while you pedal her to Packard’s for a beer,” McGovern told the outlet. “It’s not going to happen.”
Supporters, however, say the redesign could make downtown more welcoming and believe the city should consider going even further.
Jennifer Nery, a local acupuncturist, told the outlet she would prefer to eliminate all parking on Main Street.
Northampton residents are divided over a $43.3 million proposal to remake Main Street with protected bike lanes, fewer parking spaces and a narrower roadway
The Picture Main Street project could take five years to complete, with the first construction phase expected to begin in 2028
Nery said she hoped the project would create “an even stronger version of a public square.”
McGovern, meanwhile, maintained that years of construction would make downtown even less attractive to visitors.
“The big crowds of people we had in the 80s and 90s, they’ve gone away,” he said. “And they’re not coming back.”
Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra is among Picture Main Street’s most prominent supporters, describing the proposal as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to redesign downtown Northampton.”
Sciarra said the city should create “all available opportunities to minimize our reliance on motorized vehicles for trips that can be completed by other means.”
“Some people need to roll, walk, or bike,” she said.
Anna Bowen, who owns Strada Shoes on Main Street, said the plan has left her “very nervous.”
“I’ve survived online shopping,” she told the outlet. “I’ve survived Trump twice now. I’ve survived COVID.”
Even so, Bowen acknowledged that she was “not 100 percent sure” her store would survive the disruption caused by the redevelopment.
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra has called Picture Main Street a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to remake downtown
Northampton is expected to contribute $11.8 million toward the project’s estimated $43.3 million price tag
Wayne Feiden, who spent 25 years leading Northampton’s planning department, noted that Main Street was designed in the 19th century.
At that time, residents had to go downtown to shop. Today, he said, “they have other options.”
“It has to be a different kind of place,” Feiden told the Boston Globe.
Northampton resident Liza Styles said she welcomed the proposed bike lanes, while recognizing that some people may need time to adapt to such a significant change.
“It is a huge change, and change is hard,” Styles said.
Elizabeth Sharpe, co-director of the Historic Northampton museum, said Main Street also carries emotional significance for residents who feel nostalgic about what it represents.
“It represents order, your values, responsibility, civic virtues,” Sharpe told the outlet. “It’s a place where people come together.”
Strada Shoes owner Anna Bowen said she had survived COVID and other challenges but was “not 100 percent sure” her business could withstand the downtown redesign
Northampton, known as the “Paradise City,” is home to about 31,000 residents roughly 100 miles west of Boston
Northampton’s website says the protected bike lanes would be “great for everyone.”
The city says the redesign could reduce injuries, improve traffic flow, make sidewalks safer, benefit the environment and encourage healthier lifestyles.
Of the project’s projected $43.3 million cost, Northampton is expected to pay $11.8 million.
The remaining $31.5 million would be covered by state and federal construction funding.
Despite its “Paradise City” nickname, Northampton faces ongoing challenges, including a shortage of affordable housing and concerns about traffic safety.
The Northampton Police Department investigated 497 crashes in 2025.
Of those incidents, 421 involved personal injuries or property damage valued at more than $1,000.
Our News Outlet has contacted the Northampton mayor’s office for additional comment.
