Arnold Place Apartment Owner Struck by Tragedy

Staff reportsiBerkshires
04:03PM / Tuesday, March 25, 2008Print Story | Email Story

Franklin Perras speaks to the City Council last month.

NORTH ADAMS - Franklin Perras' pleas to the City Council to allow him to save his crumbling apartment building took a tragic turn early this morning when his brother died after suffering a fall in Hinsdale.

Lawrence Perras was found lying unconscious on Route 8 by a passer-by around 10:30 Monday night about a quarter mile from his Holmes Road home. According to media reports, Perras suffered "substantial head lacerations"; he was pronounced dead this morning at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

Franklin Perras had asked for more time to rehabilitate his building on Arnold Place because he had envisioned it as a way to support himself and his brother, who had serious health issues, in their retirement.

Hinsdale Police told The Berkshire Eagle that Perras did not appear to have been hit by a car and there was no evidence of foul play. He was believed to have tripped on a curbing near the Mobile gas station on Route 8 and suffered a skull fracture.

Franklin Perras, also of Holmes Road, was expected to provide the City Council with plans this evening on rehabilitating the Arnold Place structure, which he planned to renovate into five apartments.

The building is one of 13 being targeted for demolition as part of Mayor John Barrett III's initiative to combat blight in the city. Arnold Place was among the first four structures brought before the council; the other three, one on Harrison Avenue and two on East Main Street, were ordered razed or rehabilitated in two weeks.

Perras, however, was given an extra two weeks to come with a construction plan and time line because councilors believed he was sincere - if naive - about the bringing his property up to code.

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well i guess he won't be needing the extra income to provide for his brother anymore....i still think his treatment was pretty rotten....
from: ctrem	on: 03-25-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

What's rotten here is much of his property-- the guy just doesn;t get it--- the Council told two meetings ago-- when we postponed action --to provide us with a plan and cost estimates from professional contractors--- as I told him "no sweat equity" -- his position was he could get the building up to code for 50-60 thousand dollars---whereas members of the sub-committee who had visited the site were convinced that it would be over $100 grand----so he submits meeting before last a "plan"---- no cost extimates--- but what he intended to do---and this past meeting he submits a signed contract --with his deposit of $1700 for a contractor to do his back wall-----WHY??? Why should he pay out one dime- if the building is going to be demolished?????-----that's not "good faith" that's daffy----so we give him another two weeks becuase of the tragic death of his brother----but I have many doubts in dealing with a guy -who has been in violation for a few years-- who is 70 years old and up on a ladder in 20 degree temperature when the sub-committee inspects the property--- painting the eaves pink---you don't paint your house (any color) in 20 degree temperatures---I understand that he owns 124 Church St-- but his home address is listed as Hinsdale---and the Building Inspector informed us at the first meeting that that structure(124 Church) has some problems---he's an absentee landlord--not to say that we don;t have some local landlords- that have been overwhelmed----BUT the Council was not rotten to Mr. Perras------in fact we were very lenient----chbpod
from: chbpod	on: 03-27-2008 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

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