Frances Crowe tells about July 14, 1988, when she and 3 others (including Dan Ogden/DO of the EnviroShow here on Valley Free Radio) participated in a national day of action to “take down the boards” of abandoned buildings so people needing housing could live there.  In Northampton, the 4 of them forced their way into an abandoned house on Hospital Hill, and started cleaning, and planting gardens.  til the State Police came.      This house, with the efforts of the UU Society, eventually became the Grove St Inn, which is the long-term shelter run by Servicenet.

I ran into Joanne Campbell, director of Valley CDC, at the Pedal Poker Run, back in October.  She talks about the work of Valley Community Development Corporation to develop affordable housing, including their plans for the development at the old Northampton Lumber site on Pleasant St.