Tom Hickey in Februrary, celebrating the beginning of demolition
PITTSFIELD — The skyline is slowly changing along East Street. The massive General Electric Co. buildings that have loomed for decades — first a symbol of economic prosperity, later a reminder of troubled times — are being demolished.
For those who view the GE site redevelopment as Pittsfield’s best hope for a bright economic future, the ongoing demolition is cause for optimism. And, according Thomas Hickey Jr., director of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, the new year holds even greater promise — specifically, construction of new buildings that could house the first tenants in the 52-acre William Stanley Business Park.
“I think there will be shovels in the ground by springtime,†Hickey said yesterday. “I think things are going very well. We’re looking forward to a good year.â€
Two plastics companies are considering locating on the PEDA property, Hickey said. If the process moves forward as expected, the new construction and signed agreements from tenants could have a dramatic impact on sparking further interest, he said.
“I think it will put us on the map on a permanent basis,†he said, declining to name the companies because the deals have yet to be finalized.
Hickey, a former City Council president who once worked for GE in the same complex he’s now in charge of redeveloping, acknowledged that it’s been a long and complex process, even for the authority to get to this point.
The redevelopment plan emerged from the 1999 PCB Consent Decree settlement among the city, GE and several state and federal agencies. As part of the settlement, GE agreed to clean up contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls — a suspected cancer causing agent — at the East Street complex to a point at which it would be considered safe for industrial use. GE also agreed to demolish several buildings and leave 350,000 square feet of building foundations ready for development on a minimum of eight foundations, It also agreed to include some landscaping before the site is eventually turned over to the city.
Because of environmental restrictions, the site can only be used for certain businesses, such as warehousing and storage, non-retail financial services, product distribution, assembly and other light manufacturing, packaging, data processing and software development. Other uses, such as retail sales, day care, schools and recreation, cannot be considered.
Demolition and transfer of the property to the city is moving forward in phases, so as not to hold back the business park development. Hickey called the demolition plan “a living document,†because of the uncertainties involved and new issues that must be dealt with as they emerge.
At first, progress seemed slow, at least to folks outside the process, he said. For many months after the consent decree was signed, it appeared that little was changing. That’s why the beginning of demolition in early 2003 was heralded as a watershed event. Since that moment, Hickey said, people have been much more positive about the PEDA project.
“Since we started demolition on the buildings and people have seen the master plan, the majority of folks I’ve talked to are happy with the job we’re doing,†he said. “Everybody loves the change in viewscape.â€
Hickey commended GE and the government agencies involved in the process, including the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection. Even when unexpected challenges emerged, he said, the parties have been willing to resolve things quickly to keep the project moving forward.
“We keep having issues come up, things that didn’t come up in the consent decree. So far, I’m very pleased that the agencies have been able to solve, in a short period of time, any problems we’ve had,†he said.
Although pleased with the progress, Hickey emphasized that a long road remains ahead. It could be perhaps seven years before GE’s demolition and remediation work are completed and the site is entirely turned over to the city, he said. Hickey and the PEDA board of directors also have a marketing challenge to confront, specifically, convincing manufacturing companies that the project is viable and safe as an investment.
Negotiations with the two plastics companies have boosted his confidence, Hickey said.
“Both prospective tenants have met with all the agencies and they’re both very comfortable that we’re very viable business partners,†he said.
Even before construction begins, Pittsfield will see economic benefits, he added.
“People don’t realize that there are over 100 people working on the demolition side of this,†he said, pointing out that many more are working on other remediation projects, such as the PCB cleanup of sections of the Housatonic River.
Hickey said he also see “positives†with the incoming mayoral administration of James Ruberto, nothing that Ruberto has attended several PEDA board meetings.
“My impression is that there will be a lot more involvement from the Ruberto administration.†Hickey said. “He’s talked about tax incentives for companies who want to locate here. He’s got a lot of things that he feels the city can do to attract tenants.
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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