Lowe's in Plans for Plaza

By Tammy DanielsPrint Story | Email Story
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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Tunnel City Freight Holds Off Pirates in BABL Playoff Opener

By Ben McDonoughiBerkshires.com Sports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Tunnel City Freight Saturday picked up a 4-2 victory over the Pirates in the Berkshire Adult Baseball League playoffs, overcoming an early deficit with four unanswered runs.
 
The teams will meet again at Joe Wolfe on Sunday morning at 10 for Game 2 of the best-of-three series; the third game, if necessary, is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
The Pirates struck first in the bottom of the first inning. After Jason Ryan struck out to begin the inning, Phil Sullivan singled and Chad Walker reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Sullivan to advance to third. Ryan Nalepa then delivered an RBI single to bring Sullivan home and give the Pirates the lead.
 
After a walk, Norm Sweet followed with an RBI single to extend the Pirates’ advantage to 2-0.
 
Tunnel City Freight answered in the top of the third. Jared Martin drew a walk before Nate Feder singled, and Nolan Brassard also walked to load the bases. DJ Clark was then hit by a pitch, bringing home a run. Kevin Lamb followed with a double play that ended the inning, but not before another run crossed the plate, tying the game at 2-2.
 
Tunnel City took the lead in the fourth. After a leadoff walk and a double put runners in scoring position, a sacrifice fly brought home the go-ahead run. Tunnel City added another baserunner with a walk, but the Pirates escaped the inning trailing 3-2.
 
The Pirates had opportunities to respond, including a pair of singles in the bottom of the fifth, but Tunnel City worked out of the inning without allowing a run.
 
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