image description — Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell looks over the hundreds of children who attended the groundbreaking.

Williamstown Youth Center Breaks Ground On New Building

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
04:23PM / Tuesday, March 20, 2012Print Story | Email Story

Students and the Youth Center's Board of Trustees shared shovels to throw the first piles of dirt.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With a parade and singing, the town's youth was forever changed on Tuesday as the Youth Center broke ground on a new building.

The nonprofit organization began construction on a new 12,000 square foot building on Elementary School land after three years of planning — an achievement Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell calls "historic."

"These two buildings are a clear indication of the importance you are to us," Rempell told hundreds of Elementary School pupils at the construction site on Tuesday. "This is happening because the adults in this community care about you."

Scores of students marched from the school to the fenced-off construction area chanting "together, we did" — a play off the center's capital campaign slogan, "together we can." They gathered around former baseball fields where officials held a short ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

The children even sang their own song about the center and the event concluded with they and the Youth Center's board of directors tossing the first shovels of dirt while the rest of the students cheered they on.

"In my opinion, this whole event is about community," Rempell said. "We are making history here today."

Construction is expected to last until Oct. 1 with occupancy on Oct. 31 and provide a new and closer partnership between the school and the center's programming.

"This represents a new lease on life for the Youth Center," President Paul Jennings said. "These shovels really are the beginning of digging and the machines will start digging tomorrow."

The new center is expected to open at the end of October.

During the construction center officials said they have set up a camera to document the progress and they are currently planning new programming to go with the new building.

"This is going to be a new building that is used by you guys to enhance your learning in many, many ways," Jennings said.

The building replaced their former building on Cole Avenue that had been worn into deplorable conditions and for years the center was seeking a new location and had their eye on a partnership with the Elementary School when the town built the new school in 2002.

In 2009, center officials received preliminary permission to build on the school's land and embarked on a capital campaign to raise more than $3 million from more than 1,000 donors for the construction.

A groundbreaking was scheduled in 2010 but was delayed two times — once because of debate over the playground and another time to give architects more time to plan.

In February, Youth Center officials received the final nod of approval when they signed a 100-year lease with the school — setting the stage for Tuesday's event.

More photos of the ceremony can be found here and below is a "fly by tour" created by the architects, Black River Design, of what the final building will looking like.

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Tags: groundbreaking, youth center,

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

This is wonderful news for the Youth Center. What I don't understand is the youth center building was given by the Town to the Youth Center, why isn't the Youth Center GIVING back to the town, it's building? GOD knows we need housing for the low and moderate income people in town, it would only make sense that they donate it back???
from: Mary Murphy	on: 03-20-2012 05:44PM I Agree (11) - I Disagree (4)

See Berkshire Trade & Commerce magazine. They are taking bids for the Youth Center Building. Didn't Mr. Rempell tell us in his fund raiser video that the building was worthless and unable to be repaired? Bidding ends before Town Meeting, too!
from: Cole Ave Building	on: 03-21-2012 08:29AM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (2)

It should be returned to the town as it was a gift to start. After all the town has given the Youth Center a 100 year lease for a buck a year! Nice gift again to WYC!
from: ab williamstown	on: 03-21-2012 11:48AM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (0)

The building is a mess! Why would the town want it? It would have to be completely redone or better yet, demolished, in order to do anything with it. It would probably be cheaper to buy land and build housing from scratch than it would be to redo that building.
from: hello	on: 03-21-2012 06:31PM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (2)

Don't forget the $1,000,000 chunk of land that could have been used fr a high school or affordable housing.
from: Cole Ave Building	on: 03-21-2012 07:27PM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)
Editor: Where for a high school?
I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

The youth center building on Cole Avenue has the same possible low to moderate income housing as Church Corners. Who says the building should be demolished....the building inspector and other builders think it's a fine building, historical, worth preserving and not to be demolished...The bones are good, building inspectors and builders are better qualified to say if the building is worth preserving dont' you think? The building needs to come back to the Town?
from: Mary Murphy	on: 03-21-2012 08:58PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

The building should be given back to the town, and let the town decide what to do with it. If someone is willing to buy the property, as stated in the article, the money should go into the town coiffers.
from: resident	on: 03-21-2012 10:06PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (1)

Whoa. Give the building back to the town? The building isn't in good shape for a youth center and in a good size and configuration but hat isn't to say it couldn't be converted to housing by a developer. The Youth center through a lot of vision hard work and a real angel with the seed money will have built the new youth center without tax money and I think the youth center should not give the building back but put what is realized by the sale of the old building to benefit there program or building expenses.
from: Long time town resident	on: 03-21-2012 11:28PM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (1)

If you give it to the town, you are giving them another headache to deal with. That building has a mold problem in the basement and lord knows where else. That alone is a huge issue to deal with if you are trying to remodel. And for all we know, maybe the YC did offer to give it to them and they said "no thank you"! Unless they demolish and start over, I personally, would never want to live in a place that had a mold problem.
from: hello	on: 03-22-2012 06:00AM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

If the building is in that poor of condition then why hasn't the Building and Health inspectors closed it? We still have children using it everyday. There must be some value as the WYC has a nice price tag on the property as they prepare to sell.
from: ab williamstown	on: 03-22-2012 12:06PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

ab williamstown....that is the question of the century. I would not send my child there because of the condition of the building, but many people do. Maybe the price tag has to do with just the fact of where it is located (business section)? Not sure. I think a place has to be pretty horrible to get shut down. Maybe the YC stayed just north of horrible to avoid that.
from: hello	on: 03-22-2012 06:17PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

If the WYC has mold and is falling apart, then why are children still allowed to go there? Just goes to show that it depends on who you are in this town. The building and health inspecter seem to have looked the other way when it comes to the WYC. As for turning the building into affordable houseing, there is no such thing in Williamstown as affordable housing. The former church was supposed to be affordable housing, take a look at the people that can "afford" to live there......
from: just wondering	on: 03-22-2012 10:40PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (1)
Editor: "Affordable" is considered at 80 percent of the median income of the area.
I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

How does anyone know the situation of folks living at the Church Corners? Affordable housing isn't just for the "poor: (or what one deems the people going in and out should appear to be). Someone making a decent living can qualify if they have multiple dependents.
from: wondering what, exactly?	on: 03-23-2012 03:59PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Why would the town want the property. It has failed at selling Photech, the old town garage site, Cornish Wire is a huge mess, just look at it, the town shoud be ashamed, no pressure on the builder and what over one million dollars of tax payers money, we should be outraged. Church Corners was the only successful affordable (moderate) housing project in too many years. Let's get going here town?
from: very concerned citizen	on: 03-23-2012 09:58PM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Friday Front Porch Feature: A Cozy Place to Be

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Friday, December 05, 2025

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Are you looking for a move-in ready home close to the downtown area? Then this just might be the house you're looking for.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 193 Cold Spring Road.

This 1950 single-family has four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The house is 2,184 square feet on a little less than an acre of land. The price is $469,900.

The house not only comes with a 3.5-car basement garage but also a detached two-car garage with additional storage space above. The house includes the kitchen appliances like the dishwasher, range, and refrigerator, and has a fireplace, screened porch, and back deck. The home is also generator-ready.

We spoke to Suzette Lyons with Burnham and Gold Real Estate, which has the listing.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Lyons: Location, location, location!! This property is a short distance from downtown Spring Street. It's nestled conveniently away from the road and provides substantial privacy. Plus, the home has a well-maintained exterior and interior.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

What a gem! The workmanship is lovely and shows the home has been loved. There is an abundance of space with four bedrooms for family or work/home office space.

The opportunities are endless.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

The home was built in the mid-1950s by the owner of Yeadon Farm Dairy on the edge of the farm, now the Thornliebank/Buxton Hill neighborhood, with lumber cut from the property.

Along with thick plaster walls and ceilings on the first floor, quality craftsmanship is abundant throughout.

The house has been owned by the same family who built it and the grandson has made every effort to match the original design and style with all of the renovations, including custom-milled natural woodwork for the private second-floor primary bedroom suite. Family pride in ownership is evident in every space of this well-constructed and maintained house now waiting for a new family to call it "home."

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

This home appeals to many buyers. There are four bedrooms sufficient for a full-time family, singles or second homeowners. Opportunity for in-law suite. Also, ample room for a home/office business. Lots of storage space with 3 1/2 garages and additional storage space above the oversized two-car garage.

Are there any standout design features?

Lots of personal touches with natural woodwork throughout, freshly painted light colors to maximize natural light, new flooring in several rooms. Spacious four-season room for relaxing or home/office use. Also, offers a beautiful primary suite on the second floor.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

A peaceful retreat in the woods. Cozy up to the fireplace on winter nights, enjoy the morning coffee on the back porch or the four-season sunroom. Spend the afternoon gardening in your beautiful yard and connecting with nature. A pet-friendly home offering a fenced yard and durable flooring. A family friendly home directly on the school bus routes.

How would you describe the atmosphere or feel of this home?

The home has a welcoming feel with natural elements offering a place of comfort and belonging.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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