23A-146 (22) City of Northampton
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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS
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212 Main Street • Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060 - °° :j1•J
Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity
C/O Cassandra Holden May 16, 2023
130 Pine St.
Northampton, Ma.01060
Re Bombyx Event Shutdown
Dear Ms. Holden,
Pursuant to our meeting on May 189h, the city has determined that the following uses will be
allowed to continue by Bombyx. Please note that the only reason that we are not maintaining a full
shutdown until a fire suppression system is installed, is that the "A-3" use of the building, which is still
owned by the church at this time, is considered "Existing Non-Conforming".
Allowed uses: (Events that fall under the A-3 use category)
Religious worship
Lectures
Exhibits
Dinners/breakfasts/lunches for fundraising or charitable purposes
Uses not allowed:
Concerts
Music that is not part of a religious worship service
Serving of Alcohol
The scheduled events for this weekend May 20th & 21st will not be allowed.
Respectfully,
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J/nathan S. Flagg Chief Jon Davine
Building Commissioner Fire Chief
City of Northampton City of Northampton
City of Northampton
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Massachusetts
• i DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS y:
212 Main Street • Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060
Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity
C/O Cassandra Holden May 30, 2023
130 Pine St.
Northampton, Ma.01060
Re: Bombyx Event Usage
Dear Ms. Holden,
Pursuant to our meeting on May 30th, and the submittal of a Building permit application for a
change of use from an A-3, to a Mixed Use of A-1 & A-3, the city has determined that the following uses
will be allowed to continue by Bombyx. Please note that the reason that we are not maintaining a full
shutdown until a fire suppression system is installed. is that the "A-3" use of the building, which is still
owned by the church at this time, is considered "Existing Non-Conforming", and does not require a
suppression system for occupant loads below 300.
Allowed uses: (Events that fall under the A-1 & A-3 use category) including but limited to:
Religious worship
Lectures
Exhibits
Dinners/breakfasts/lunches for fundraising or charitable purposes
Concerts
Music that is not part of a religious worship service
The serving of Alcohol is not allowed and no 1 day liquor licenses will be issue by the city for any
events at this location. You must keep the occupant load below 300, the lighting must not be turned
down to low levels, the pews must remain fixed, and the path of Egress Travel must be well defined.
Please sign this letter as a form of assent to these restrictions and return to my office forthwith.
Respectfully,
6ZIPC)i\j fir;
Jonathan S. Flagg
Building Commissioner
City of Northampton
City of Northampton
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DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS 21"
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212 Main Street • Municipal Building yJti Q.
Northampton, MA 01060 S 4
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Bombyx Center for Arts and Equity
C/O Cassandra Holden May 16, 2023
130 Pine St.
Northampton, Ma.01060
Re: Bombyx Event Shutdown
Dear Ms. Holden,
Recently, the Building & Fire Departments met on site at the Bombyx event space located at
130 Pine Street due to a concern as to the type of events that were being produced there. Upon
investigation of the situation, it was determined that some of the scheduled events are considered to be
in the "Night Club" category, ie: large attendance, live music, food, alcohol. nighttime operating hours
and low lighting levels `3' ,'�, kr'a' :,; 1: R I?' '. , " y' '',V"r i/ ;, this type of event requires
that the building in which the event is held, be equipped with a "Fire Suppression S stem" throughout if
the occupant load for the entire building has a capacity of 100 or more. Also, it is : ' that "Night
Clubs" are not allowed to operate in the Office/Industrial zoning district. In the interest of"Life Safety",
we ordered that the building be shut down for such uses.
When you spoke with members of city departments last year, you made it very clear that these
were not the type of events that your group was planning on having. You stated that it was to be used
more for small scale entertainment, charity dinners, lectures, art exhibits, etc. You were also made
aware that you were going to have to have a fire suppression system installed if and when the Zone
Change that you applied for was granted.
At this time, the City would like to meet with you to discuss upcoming events and which ones
you may be allowed to continue to have. The Mayor's office will be reaching out to you shortly to
schedule said meeting. In the interim, you will not be allowed to hold "Concert" type events, and "Fire
Watches" are not an option. Also, the daycare and the Synagogue are not affected by this decision and
can remain in operation.
Respectfully, Vain/
Jonathan S. Flagg Chief Jon Davine
Building Commissioner Fire Chief
City of Northampton City of Northampton