“At the heart of it all, people really, really come together. It’s in our culture here,” describes Hannah Rechtshaffen, Director of the Greenfield Business Association. “It’s an absolutely gorgeous place to live. We have a lot of outdoor recreation, and we really shine in our cultural events and places to go and be outside.” A DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION WITH HISTORIC ROOTS “Greenfield has some folks who have been born and raised here who have a deep love for the city. We also have an influx of new residents who are coming to all of these wonderful events that celebrate our history,” depicts Amy Cahillane, Director of Economic Development.“Our revitalization vision is something that preserves and celebrates the historical importance and beauty of Greenfield and also welcomes folks who are remote working, folks who are relocating from urban areas to Greenfield because it’s a lot more affordable.” At the center of Greenfield’s transformation is its downtown area, where time honored traditions are blending with lively new opportunities. “I would say our downtown is the heart of our community, featuring an assortment of fantastic local businesses, restaurants, groceries, and entertainment. We have a lot of things that happen here, but we are encouraging more and more businesses and community events in the city,” portrays Mayor Ginny Desorgher. Among the exciting projects is the redevelopment of the Levitt Hovey House, a historic building in the center of downtown. Formerly the home of the Greenfield Public Library, this space is now being reimagined by the Greenfield Savings Bank.Another noteworthy endeavor is the new public library, which has become a community hotspot. “Since opening in 2023, they have had a 264% increase in visits, a 270% increase in program attendance and a 394% increase in computer usage,” Communications Director, Matthew Conway reports. “So, not only is this purpose built library really meeting the community and providing a great need, but it’s also becoming a communal destination that people from within Franklin County and even throughout the region, are coming to visit. We’re incredibly proud about that.” As the revitalization continues, the Greenfield Police Department is developing a downtown substation and has launched a Community Impact Unit, which regularly walks the streets to engage with residents, business owners, and other stakeholders. “It’s really about forging connections,” notes Conway. “That’s something we’re really excited about, and I think that’ll be a great support to our downtown.” 37 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 GREENFIELD, MA
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