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)

North Adams Water Line Break Shuts Off Service on Ashland; McCann Dismisses Classes Early

Staff Reports iBerkshires
10:52AM / Friday, October 30, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A water main that broke Friday morning has affected water service south of Main Street along Ashland and Church streets and caused McCann Technical School to close early.

The break occurred shortly before 9 a.m. near the Roots Teen Center; Ashland Street between Summer Street and American Legion Drive was closed to traffic to allow crews to work on repairs.

"The way it was coming out, we were hoping it was a sprinkler line for the old Nassif's, but there's no sprinkler line in there, so it's a main line," said Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau. "We're trying to get it isolated. Once we get isolated, everything's coming back."

This break is causing areas of the city to have little to no water pressure.

McCann Technical posted that its Tea Room would be closed and then announced early dismissal for 11:15 a.m. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has cancelled all classes.

The Water Department was opening connections around the affected area to close off the gates and redirect the flow until the line could be repaired. Water was flowing out of a hydrant past the post office and streaming down American Legion Drive.

American Legion Drive is open but the work crews are now in the intersection of Ashland and Summer Street and traffic will be disrupted. The city is asking that motorists and pedestrians avoid the affected area whenever possible "to allow our crews to work safely and efficiently."

For questions or concerns, contact the Water Department at 413-662-3157. In the event of an emergency, contact the Dispatch Center at 413-664-4944, Ext. 1.

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