Beacon Cinema Construction

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PITTSFIELD – Over the next few weeks, construction activity will be increasing on the Beacon Cinema project. This means Allegrone Construction and the City will be implementing the traffic changes approved last fall by the Traffic Commission. A diagram, illustrating the temporary changes, is attached. The anticipated time frame for each change is also shown on the diagram.

As a reminder, at various times during construction these changes will include:

North bound traffic on McKay Street being diverted through the McKay Street parking garage;

South bound traffic on McKay Street dead ending at the Central Block;

The open short term parking area on McKay Street, directly in front of the parking garage, being closed.

The City is working to provide:


Temporary parking along West Street, east of McKay Street;

A temporary loading zone along West Street, west of McKay Street; and

Relocate 2 handicap parking spaces – one into the garage and one on to West Street.

As with any major construction project, these changes will cause short term disruptions in pedestrian and vehicle access in the area of the cinema construction project. Steps have been taken to limit the duration of changes, while recognizing that public safety on and in the vicinity of the construction site is the first priority.

The City appreciates the cooperation being given by all affected by these changes. When completed, the cinema center will bring 200,000 plus people downtown each year, continuing the renaissance of downtown Pittsfield, the urban center of the Berkshires. For more information, please contact Matt Dindio in the Mayor’s office, 413 499-9322
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Letter: Pittsfield Court Injustices Against Seniors

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The Foundation: A Lifetime of Integrity

For over 45 years, I have been a fixture of the Berkshire community. As a professional house painter, I helped maintain the homes of this county; as a self-taught artist and photographer, I contributed to its culture. In the 1970s, my work was exhibited at the Berkshire Museum, where I earned multiple ribbons for my photography.

The Shattered Sanctuary

My retirement in a Section 8-assisted apartment was meant to be my creative peak. For six years, I lived in peace and maintained a friendship with my landlord. That changed in July 2024, when a new tenant and her adult son moved into the unit directly above mine. The son, who had recently completed a four-year prison sentence for robbery, was under house arrest for months.

The noise from above became unbearable, making my creative work and daily life impossible. These neighbors show a complete lack of consideration for others and disregard the basic ethical standards necessary to live harmoniously within a community.

The Weaponization of the Law

Left with no protection from the landlord or the Housing Authority, I was forced to defend my living space. This tension allowed the plaintiffs to weaponize the legal system. The plaintiff’s son successfully petitioned for a restraining order against me. To prevent the order from being dismissed in late December, he fabricated a new allegation: He claimed I was "following him" in my vehicle.

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