Coalition to Discuss Senior Housing Options

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NORTH ADAMS - "Assisting Elders to Be in the Environment They Want" will be the topic of the December forum of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. The community is invited to attend the forum, which will be held Friday, Dec. 14, from 10 to noon at First Baptist Church at the corner of Eagle and Main streets. During the September needs assessment forum, Dale Waterman asked the question: Why aren't there any affordable assisted living environments in North Berkshire? Her question resonated with many at the meeting who have been trying to find suitable environments for aging relatives. While at present Northern Berkshire County seems to lack affordable assisted living, there are options that can help elders. Robert Dean, executive director of Elder Services of Berkshire County, will be joined by representatives of the local councils on aging to talk with the forum about the growing elder population and the services that can support them. There are assisted living facilities in Berkshire County, but not at a reasonable cost in Northern Berkshire. As the population ages, more options will be needed for caring for elders and creating affordable assisted living may be one option.
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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