I was saddened and angry by the time I finished reading the Nov. 5 Gazette article regarding the proposal of rezoning the entire stretch of University Drive in Amherst [“Planners consider modifying U-Drive rezoning”]. The focus of rezoning is to build yet more housing for college students. This rezoning proposal could bring the demise of the Big Y Shopping Plaza.

The storefronts that could be removed include the Big Y Supermarket, the Goodwill thrift store, an Asian restaurant, a nail salon, and a yoga studio. When these locally owned or run businesses close, people lose their jobs.

For Planning Board member Johanna Neumann to make the comment, “I can’t help feel we’re being precious about a strip mall,” and saying she is not worried about a food desert because people can go to Stop & Shop made me angry.

While Stop & Shop is a supermarket chain owned by Ahold/Delhaize (a Dutch/Belgian conglomerate), Big Y is a locally owned supermarket chain that started in Chicopee in 1936 by the D’Amour family, and is still family owned. Not only that, but much of Big Y’s produce comes from local farmers as well as from the UMass farm facility in Deerfield where students are trained in agriculture.

In addition, now that the Amherst Survival Center no longer offers clothing and other items for those in need, the Goodwill store is a place where folks can still buy inexpensive clothing, kitchen supplies etc.

So, yes, in my eyes this strip mall is precious, and deserves to stay open for business.

Cyd Reiman

Pelham