NORTH ADAMS - The developer of the defunct North Adams Plaza is expected to appear before the City Council in two weeks with plans that will include the construction of a Lowe's Home Improvement store.
Lowe's has long been rumored to be the anchor store for a shopping center on Curran Highway. Its name was first raised when Nigro Development LLC of Albany, N.Y., took out an option on the city's former gravel bank nearly two years ago. But that deal never closed. Now the big-box retailer is slated for the plaza shopping center, owned by Starwood Ceruzzi Co. of Fairfield, Conn.
"It does look like it's going to happen this time around," Mayor John Barrett III told the council on Tuesday night. He said the site has been OKed by the home improvement company's real estate committee, but cautioned the plans were still preliminary.
Representatives for Starwood Ceruzzi were scheduled to appear at the council meeting with a plan to reconfigure South State Street, which runs behind the plaza south to Adams. Barrett said some discrepancies were found in the documents, causing the developer to postpone the presentation.
South State Street was left to the city when county government folded some years ago. The city will not maintain the road, said Barrett, but because it is the city's, any changes must be approved by the Planning Board, then by the council.
"It is important that this road be maintained because the Petricca family does own the land in the back and will hopefully want to develop it someday," said the mayor.
The plaza, empty since last summer, is expected to be demolished. The footprint of the new building or buildings means the road will have to be moved back toward the Petricca property. The developer will have to reconstruct and maintain the road.
The new shopping plaza will have to go through the permitting process, including the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office. Developers asked the city Conservation Commission to delineate wetlands on the property several weeks ago. If the permitting process goes smoothly, the mayor estimated completion in about 18 months.
The deal to put a Lowe's on the former gravel pit site last summer fell through when the Adams Selectmen raised concerns about the possible effects on the town's sewer system, which serves that end of the city.
Those worries have been eased by discussions with the mayor and Starwood Ceruzzi over the past few months. "There's been a good working relationship between the two communities about what's going on," said Barrett.
"The mayor has the support of the Adams Selectmen," Chairman Joseph R. Dean Jr. told the North Adams Transcript on Monday. "I don't think there'll be any opposition. Last time, I think there was a lot of misunderstandings and things taken out of context. We just wanted some information — we weren't really opposed to it. ..."
The building will be about 130,000 square feet and will likely employ about 100 people. A bank and drive-through is also on the plans.
Starwood Ceruzzi bought the plaza for $2.5 million in 2004. That firm and Nigro joined forces, with Nigro as the silent partner, to develop both the plaza and the gravel pit. Nigro's option to purchase the city property for $700,000 expires in September, the latest of several extensions.
Barrett said he informed the development group that it should purchase the property, or expect to pay a significant amount of money to continue the option.
"I think they've got to fish or cut bait here as to what's going to happen," said the mayor.
Tammy Daniels can be reached at tdaniels@iberkshires.com
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I really think it's too bad that Lowe's is coming - what is going to happen to the small town hardware stores that have been around forever? What about those employees???
They will have to go to work for Lowes and everyone in town will save money and be more likely to improve their properties which in turn will make the city a nicer place.
If you buy nothing but the promotional specials, anybody with a calculator or a pad and pencil can figure that they might save. BUT if you really need something they don't have. you will pay 20-40% MORE than you would at the local shops and hardware stores.
Also, don't expect to see the same faces there next time you go in. They don't have long-time employees.
The good, local small stores will stay through this, since they are part of what this town is.
I am so glad...ever try to get any service at Greenbergs if you aren't a big contractor? Finally, a big company that might help the true little guy. Maybe the smaller stores will actually have to help customers...theres a concept!
Are you joking? Greenberg's is nothing if not customer-focused. I have gotten great advice from the truly knowledgable staff at Greenbergs on numerous occassions and I am just a do-it-yourselfer. I will continue to shop at G-bergs.
Glad to see something worthwhile back in the neighborhood, maybe there would be enough room for another supermarket since BIG Y is the only one in Adams- I sure the hope so! So we will have a choice for a change. Good luck! Look forward to seeing some made out of that dump!
NAHA Board Accepts Director's Resignation, Unlocks Tenants Association Office
By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office.
The board held a special meeting Thursday to vote to accept Hohn's resignation and determined that there are currently no plans to replace her.
"We didn't make any final determinations in terms of the executive session so we will schedule another meeting at another time," Chairwoman Leigh Uqdah said after returning from more than an hour session. "Day-to-day operations will continue to be managed as normal by staff."
Per their bylaws, board member Marie Harpin will continue to handle finances, and Uqdah will manage contracts.
Hohn stepped down on Oct. 8 after 24 years leading the agency. Her resignation followed rising tension between her and the NAHA Tenants Association, culminating in the scheduling of a formal grievance hearing between both parties.
The boiling point was the locking of the association's office this summer. Tenants alleged the lockout was retaliation for posting a video on social media depicting improperly functioning door alarms. Hohn claimed the office was locked for tenant safety and to stop the spread of misinformation.
Tenants Association President Corey Fortin asked if Hohn's security access had been removed. Uqdah confirmed her credentials were revoked the day she resigned, meaning she can no longer monitor security cameras remotely.
Jennifer Barbeau, a former city councilor who was liaison to the Housing Authority, asked when the board met to discuss Hohn's severance package. Uqdah stated that Hohn did not have one.
The board also accepted the resignation of Commissioner Richard Lavigne, though they will vote officially on the matter at their next meeting.
The open portion of the meeting was brief, with nearly an hour and a half spent in executive session. Before entering executive session, the board opened the floor to tenants.
"The tenants requested an opportunity to talk to the board," said Uqdah. "It has been quite a while, but we have decided to honor that."
Fortin, who posted the original video to social media, was the first to speak. He was clear in his request: unlock the office door.
"Let's cut straight to the chase tonight. The former resigned Director Jennifer Hohn ordered the office locked," he alleged. "She is gone. The lockout is a direct violation, and the board has a duty to end that tonight."
He cited federal and state laws that mandate the tenants association be provided with office space, including computer and network access.
"We are here with a direct administrative demand. We demand that the board vote tonight to unlock the doors," he said. "Do not let a resigned director's illegal action remain the board's ongoing liability. Open our door tonight, and let us get back to work."
The North Adams Housing Authority Board of Commissioners officially accepted the resignation of Executive Director Jennifer Hohn and restored access to the Tenants Association office. click for more
That was the list of grievances that current and former tenants of the North Adams Housing Authority's high rise laid before the City Council on Tuesday.
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City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department. click for more
