Coalition Seeks Community Input on Northern Berkshire Environment

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The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is seeking community input as they plan for their upcoming Neighborhood EXPO on December 6th. With an environmental theme of "Keeping the Berkshires Beautiful", organizers are interested in having people participate in three morning story sessions between 10:15 and noon.

These story conversations include: The Physical Effect of Our Environment: how the environment affects us and how we affect the environment; Enjoying Our Environment: What the Berkshires offer and what people enjoy about living here; and Improving and Protecting Our Environment: What people are doing and how we can get involved. They welcome people to contribute their perceptions, stories and knowledge.

Anyone who has ideas and contacts and who are interested in participating or adding to these sessions is asked to please contact Kathy Keeser at 663-7588 or e-mail kkeeser@nbccoaltion.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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