Scarafoni Associates plans to purchase the Transcript property and renovate for use by the Brien Center.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council will be asked to approve a tax incentive that will allow the Brien Center to move into the North Adams Transcript building while keeping the building on the tax rolls for 10 years.
Scarafoni Associates plans to buy the 16,000 square-foot building on American Legion Drive and lease it to the nonprofit Brien Center. David Carver of Scarafoni Associates told the Finance Committee on Tuesday that the 10-year agreement may be critical to loosening up bank financing for the project.
"We think this TIF agreement is a big piece of making this work ... which will release probably $1 million in construction and repairs, something we need to see more of in the downtown," said Carver. "This type of project and this type of financing will make the numbers work for bankers."
Mayor Richard Alcombright said the tax increment financing agreement would lock in the property's current assessment $767,000, guaranteeing property taxes of more than $20,000 annually for the next decade despite the Brien Center's status as a nonprofit.
Coldwell Banker lists the taxes as $21,197.
Chairman Michael Bloom noted the current unpredictability of the commercial market. "This is an amazing agreement."
That will provide the stability for both entities to make the project work, said Carver. "We are buying the building for less than the assessed value," he said. "So instead of petitioning for [the assessed value to be the] purchase price ... we have agreed as part of this process to lock in that current assessed value."
David Carver explains to the Finance Committee how the TIF agreement would work.
"I think it's a great solution for the city ... it retains the Brien Center in the city and the jobs and services they provide," said the mayor. If the Brien Center, which provides mental health and substance abuse services to some 10,000 people in Berkshire County, purchased the building, it would fall off the tax rolls completely.
TIFs once required job production but the state changed the law last year to take into account job retention.
The Brien Center, cited as the ninth-largest employer in the county recently by The Berkshire Eagle, employs 40 full-time and 20 part-time employees at its offices on Marshall Street. Catherine A. Doherty, chief executive officer, said the agency's lease on Marshall Street is up in August; moving to Ashland Street will allow the organization to stay in the downtown and not only retain programs but expand them.
"Once we our positioned into this new building we will be able to think about adding more programs," she said. "It's a building that speaks more to what we do."
She cited the property's easy access, single-story construction and spaciousness that will offer room for more programs for the 3,000 to 4,000 North County residents the agency serves. It will also provide space for the Adult Day Health Program, which will move from the former Department of Motor Vehicles building along with its 10 employees.
Alcombright said the city solicitor had reviewed the agreement. Carver's attorney, Elisabeth Goodman, on questions from the committee, said the agreement would remain in effect should the Brien Center purchase the property because it signing on to the deal. It could be broken, she said, if the Brien Center reneged on the lease.
The 45-year-old Transcript building was placed on the market nearly two years ago for nearly $1 million; it has sinced been reduced to $799,000. The presses were removed; printing and most of the support staff operate out of The Eagle in Pittsfield.
The city had eyed the property as a potential site for a new public safety building but its current fiscal problems have put that project on hold.
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Editor: He was on the floor of the chamber, not the floor like you walk on. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)
It is not healthy for a City to have almost all the commercial real estate owned and operated by one landlord. Brien Center should have shopped around and sought out other landlords for their endeavour.
Maybe the Brein Center should have bought the building it's self and not had to pay a penny in property tax to the city? To he has the riches go the spoils.
Editor: They're also renovating Mount Carmel so didn't want to take on two properties. This way Carver does the investment and also gets a locked-in tenant. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)
Why don't we just crown Carver King. Monopoly any one?
In my opinion this is a win for all involved. No jobs will be leaving, jobs will be created in the construction and the building will remain on the tax rolls. My comment was meant in response to John who thought one person owning most of the commercial propety in downtown is a problem. This is how a TIF is supposed to work.
Other landlords are free to stand up and try to invest in North Adams. To this point no one has taken on that role, except David Carver. Ignorance is bliss once again. God forbid we have someone interested in investing in North Adams without harassment!
The city should consider taxing not for profit buildings. Other cities and towns are starting to do that. If all commercial buildings were owned by non profits there would be no commercial taxes coming in. There's plenty of non profits that make good money and pay their executives big bucks. I am not saying it has to be the same rate but they should contribute something to our roads, schools and public safety services.
North Adams has had the highest commercial tax rate in the state and if we want more jobs here we should give investors a temporary discounted rate to grow their businesses. If we don't other communities will. Barrett did it with Jaes Inn and Porches Inn which had a lot less employees. Pittsfield wants to do it with Excelsior to get them to move.
FYI...a few years back I approached David Carver and asked him his thoughts about a DIF zone. He thought it would be a good idea. A DIF zone...short form...calls for a City to assess a special tax on all Commercial Property Owners within that zone. The zone we spoke about was the Downtown. It also calls upon the City to mathch those funds and use them for improvements within that zone. So I ask if this Carver guy is so bad for business then why would he be willing to pay an extra tax for his "kingdom"?
Editor: The mayor said he would be bringing a plan before the Planning Board for an economic development area that would include the Jarisch Box property and go north to the hotel. I didn't get a chance to talk to him about it. I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)
Why should carver get a tax break? he is worth millions. he is the problem on the north side of main st. the rents are so high that stores cant survive. just look at cup and sauser and petro and the bean. all carver does is line his wallet. I ask the council to refuse him a tax break.
:: Preliminary Election: Deadline to register is Wednesday, Sept. 7. (Office open from 8 to 8.)
:: General Election: Deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct. 18
Registration can be completed at the city clerk's office at City Hall.
Absentee ballots are now available at the city clerk's office for the Sept. 27 preliminary city election. Voters may come in between the hours of 8 and 4:30 weekdays. Written reguests for mailed ballots can be sent to City Clerk's Office, 10 Main St., North Adams, MA 01247. Deadline for absentee ballots is Monday, Sept. 26, at noon.
The preliminary election will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27, to narrow the field of three mayoral candidates to two. The general election to select nine city councilors and a mayor will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8.
