As Senior Planner for the Town of Amherst, Kim Amplement is at the forefront of long-range planning and public engagement. Her work is deeply embedded in shaping policy and place through collaborative visioning, and one of her most ambitious undertakings is the transformation of the Boulevard Mall site.

Once a thriving retail center, the Boulevard Mall has declined steadily since 2016—its market value plummeting by 70% to just $12 million in 2025, with multiple anchor tenants vacating. Rather than letting the 64-acre greyfield site continue to deteriorate, the Town of Amherst has taken a proactive stance—creating a micro-level action plan rooted in their comprehensive plan to rezone, reimagine, and revitalize the area.

Kim will share the town’s bold vision: to incrementally retrofit the mall into a walkable, mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented neighborhood with a true “town center” feel. The transformation includes strategies for reconfiguring streets to promote walkability, adding a diversity of housing for seniors, students, and low-income residents, and repurposing spaces like the former Buffalo Athletic Club for civic and community use.

This talk explores how legal tools like redevelopment agreements, eminent domain, and environmental impact statements—as well as partnerships with organizations like AIDA and the Amherst Development Corporation—are leveraged to guide and hold developers accountable. Through innovative land-use strategies and incentives, Amherst is turning a relic of retail into a resilient and inclusive urban neighborhood.

Kim offers insight into how public planning can be deeply strategic, yet grounded in community engagement and a shared sense of place.