Offering New England Charm

 A Fun Loving Community in Franklin County Massachusetts

Offering the best of New England charm and quality of life, the city of  Greenfield is a place where rich history meets modern development. With its vibrant downtown, thriving local businesses, and a strong sense of community, the city is alive with growth and revitalization, while preserving the best of what it means to live in small town America.

“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.”

 A Supportive and  Engaged Community

According to Mayor Desorgher, the strength of Greenfield’s character lies in its people. She conveys, “Greenfield is very community oriented, and we are all taking care of each other. We have a warming center where we’re taking care of our unhoused. People love to be together. We have things like our Harvest Supper, that’s an annual thing, and you see so much community involvement with all of our recreation events.”

One example is Greenfield Bee Fest, a beloved annual event celebrating the unique agricultural history of the city. “Philip Langstroth had the first beehive here,” details the mayor. “There’s people that come, they get dressed up as bees, you can buy yellow and orange socks and outfits. And then there is a Klezmer band, and people are marching along. We have bees all over the place that are done by artists.”

Greenfield also participates in Monte’s March, which culminates in a community celebration complete with music and food supplied by Hawkes and Reeds, the local performing arts center.

West County Cider has been part of the Greenfield landscape since 1984, inspiring a popular regional event called Cider Days, the original cider making festival in the United States. “We started it, and then it got too big for us, so Cider Days was taken over by the chamber and run through Greenfield for many years,” explains owner Field Maloney.

“The number of people who keep coming back makes me happy. We’ve got one of the more beautiful views in Franklin County. You can see Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut from here. We plant lots of gardens and flowers to make it really nice for people.”

Along with its events and festivals, Greenfield offers a wealth of outdoor attractions that add to its appeal. With more than a dozen parks scattered throughout the town, including a state-of-the-art skate park and newly added bocce courts, residents and visitors can enjoy ample opportunities for recreation surrounded by the beauty of the area.

“I always like to call Greenfield a recreation destination, because in Franklin County the scenery, the foliage, all of that, is immaculate and it’s fantastic to experience,” illustrates Conway. “Our rec department really works overtime to make sure we’re maximizing those assets and then continuing to build upon them.”

Local dining options, The Greenfield Farmers’ Market, and amenities like the volunteer-run red clay tennis courts, a local treasure dating back to the 1920s, further elevate Greenfield as a destination. “The city,  the Business Association, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce work really closely to make sure we’re focused on having Greenfield be restored as the heart of, and gateway to, Franklin County. There’s so much happening here in the city, and we also encourage a lot of day tripping visits to what’s around us,” outlines Rechtshaffen.

Housing, Economic Growth, and Future Expansion

In response to the housing needs of the region, Greenfield is pushing forward with a series of residential projects. “We have approximately 200 units that are already in the pipeline. Those are projects that are at various stages along the development continuum,” reports Cahillane. “While there is a significant portion of that downtown, they are spread throughout Greenfield and they are projects of all types, rental and home ownership, single family homes and smaller apartment style or townhouse style units, some in an urban area, some in a more rural area.”

Downtown Greenfield will see the redevelopment of the former Wilson’s Department Store into the Putnam project, which will introduce 60 new residential units above The Greenfield Farmers’ Market. Additionally, a forthcoming Main Street development is expected to add 20 more housing units, further enhancing livability in the area. “We are working in close contact with the Economic Development and Planning Board to put in a couple of changes to make the housing a little easier downtown,” Mayor Desorgher asserts. “You can’t make more land, and the only way that we can get more of those housing units in is to go up a little bit.”

Looking beyond housing, Greenfield’s industrial park is seeking opportunities for growth in an effort to support both existing businesses and attract new ventures. Rechtshaffen conveys, “With the industrial park we are aware of some space limitations. You can’t make more land, but we can keep building value. We are actively working at the moment with the Franklin County Community Development Corporation and others, to try and utilize some of the space in the industrial park to the benefit of industrial park employees.” Initiatives include improvements to transportation in and out of the park, and to public transit, so employees can get to and from work with ease.

Another prospect is to bring more food trucks to the area, providing unique options for employees. “I’ll just say for the record, it is one of the most beautiful industrial parks that I’ve ever seen in my life, and it’s really a lovely place to work,” says Rechtshaffen. “We get that feedback a lot from the companies that are up there, that their employees really appreciate the outdoor space, and they feel like the place that they’re working in is really beautiful, which is not always common in the industrial world.”

With a 26 acre parcel of land opening up, the city is currently reaching out to existing businesses who are hoping to expand. “It is also an opportunity for a new manufacturer or other industrial business to come in,” details Cahillane. “We also have an existing gravel pit, which has a fair amount of acreage. We are working with property owners and developers on the possibility of creating pad ready sites where the gravel pit currently exists. So, there is some possibility of expansion possibility.”

Future Plans

Looking ahead, Mayor Desorgher says the focus will be on, “creating an even more vibrant downtown, and taking care of the needs of the people who live here.” From revitalizing historic spaces, to welcoming economic opportunities, Greenfield is dedicated to preserving its past while moving forward into a future of possibility.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Greenfield, Massachusetts
What: A playful and innovative city, with much to offer
Where: Franklin County, MA
Website: www.greenfieldma.com