DC Station to Open on Fulton Avenue in Northampton on Oct. 4
Modern fueling complex to offer fast charging stations for EVs, healthy fast food and an EV learning center
NORTHAMPTON—Developer Bruce Volz will open a carefully crafted, modern fueling station, called DC Station, at 5 Fulton Ave., on Oct. 4, providing 10 fast, Level 3 charging ports for electric vehicles and a place for drivers to grab a fast cup of good coffee or healthy meal while they wait.
The station—named DC for Direct Current—will also offer a learning hub, EV Base Camp, for those interested in EVs. The grounds will be landscaped with native plants to support local ecosystems and biodiversity. An array of solar panels will cover the charging stations to help defray the cost of the electricity.
“I’m a person who is concerned about the environment and wanted to do something that could have a direct impact,” Volz said, explaining he hopes to prove there is a need for a well-designed, efficient-to-operate, modern, electric fueling station that serves good coffee and food.
Volz seeks tenants for DC Station to join in this enterprise, in particular, a coffee house or café to serve customers from early morning to afternoon, and a casual restaurant, such as a pizza or taco house, that would be open until later in the evening. Anyone interested in leasing should contact Volz’s realtor, Ben Bolotin at Region Commercial in West Springfield at [email protected]m or 413-415-1200.
Volz began his professional life as a designer and builder of high-end custom wood furniture. In 1991, he and a colleague, Tony Clarke, launched Volz, Clarke & Associates in One Cottage Street in Easthampton. The firm soon shortened its name to VCA and developed a national reputation, known for the highest-quality custom furniture and architectural millwork.
The business sold to Metrica in 2023 with all 48 employees retained.
As a side project, Volz also developed an award-winning, four-unit residential condominium project, designed by Jones Whitsett Architects, on Grove Street in 2016. The project was conceived to prove the concept that modern design, with thoughtful landscaping, had an audience in Northampton. All units sold as soon as they were available.
The lot housing DC Station was previously the site for a gas station and used car lot, Pleasant Journey. “Kuhn Riddle Architects and Berkshire Design Group developed a plan to turn a barren parking lot into a vibrant addition to the Northampton gateway district,” Volz said. “This project incorporates many of the city’s sustainability goals. Keiter was hired as the general contractor in 2024 and has since been diligently at work developing the site and constructing a 4,800-square-foot, energy efficient building.”
The Planning Board unanimously approved Volz’s project in June 2024.
The modern DC Station faces Fulton Street, with access to charging and parking on Conz and Pleasant Street; the Level 3 chargers supplied by Lynkwell will soon be installed and are expected to be operational on Oct. 4.
“Level 3 are fast chargers that put out more electricity and cut charge time to 30 to 60 minutes,” Volz explained. “It’s really a game changer for people traveling long distances or for those who don’t have access to a home charger.”
Volz has been an EV owner since 2016, and through ownership, became acutely aware of the limitations of the public charging infrastructure.
“The DC Station concept was developed through answering the question, ‘As a customer, what would I want to see in an EV charging station?’” Volz said. “It was easy to come up with a list: multiple ports of Level 3 chargers, solar arrays to help offset the electrical needs, good coffee, healthy food options, a modern design for the building, a high-efficient HVAC system, native plants used in the landscaping, bike racks and clean bathrooms.”
EV Base Camp is a new addition to Volz’s list for businesses at DC station. He is partnering with Greg Goff on that venture. “Greg has a passion for EVs and has extensive knowledge on all things related to EVs. In addition he has worked with private clients to assist them in finding the right EV for their particular needs,” Volz said. “Through that, he has developed working relationships with many of the local EV dealers.”
EV Base Camp will offer a central place in the region for resources and information on EVs, including information on new and used vehicles; the ins and outs of charging; financing and rebate options; maintenance questions; and information on planning a trip to reduce “range anxiety.” Base Camp also plans to add an “EV of the Week” component in which interested parties can schedule a test drive from the site in that week’s featured EV.
A firm believer in the need to reduce carbon emissions, Volz hopes to expand ownership of EVs in the region. “If the transition to EVs is going to happen, people need to have access to Level 3 chargers. That’s critical,” added Volz, who drives a Hyundai Ionic 5 with a charge range of about 320 miles.
For leasing, contact Bolotin at [email protected] or 413-415-1200.
For information on EV Base Camp, contact [email protected].
To learn more about DC Station, contact [email protected].
