Pittsfield Adult Learning Center OK For New North St. Home

By Joe DurwinPittsfield Correspondent
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Adult Learning Center will relocate from its longtime home at 10 Lyman St. to a new space at 141 North St., following a 7-4 vote by the City Council to authorize a lease at the new location.

The new five-year lease, which was unanimously approved by the city's School Committee at its June 6 meeting, was the result of a request for proposals put out by the center in February as the school department's current lease with Massery Realty for the Lyman Street building is set to expire June 30. 

An offer from GDL Associates for equivalent quarters at the Brothership Building (formerly the W.T. Grant building) on North Street would save about $21,000 per year, or $105,000 over the next five years, from the city's school budget expenditures.

Kristen Behnke, school business administrator for the center, said the request for proposals and bidding process was a requirement of Massachusetts General Law, rather than a reflection of any dissatisfaction with their current location. The North Street space offered by GDL Associates rated higher overall on a set of criteria laid out in the RFP, in addition to its lower price.

"It's a nine dollar per square foot price, as opposed to Massery Realty, which came in at $13 per square foot," said Behnke.

The four councilors in opposition Christopher Connell, Melissa Mazzeo, Anthony Simonelli, and Christine Yon, cited concerns about the center being a good fit in this largely retail-oriented sector of the city.

"I think that location should be set aside for retail," said Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Simonelli, "It's prime real estate right downtown on our North Street."

Other tenants in the Brothership Building include both retail stores such as Persnickety Toys and Bisque Beads and Beyond as well as office spaces, including Meridian Associates, which provides mental health outreach services.

Ward 1 Councilor Christine Yon pointed to a five-year planning document completed by Downtown Inc. last year that called for preserving  called for preserving the first-floor spaces on North Street for retail, restaurant or cultural uses. 


"When we do things like Juvenile Court, what that creates on North Street is what they call 'retail black holes,'" said Yon. "You have to walk a long distance to the next retail; it doesn't make it conducive for shoppers or even retailers to want to set up little retail shops on North Street."

Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Morandi said the Adult Learning Center would be an additional draw and reason for people to frequent the revitalized North Street area.

"I know we want to keep particularly businesses, retail, going in there, but we do have empty storefronts," Morandi said in support of approving the lease.

"This is an opportunity to not only save the taxpayers money, but to bring more people downtown," agreed Ward 5 Councilor Jonathan Lothrop.

Ward 6 Councilor John Krol said he was sympathetic to the concerns about losing space that was prime for retail on North Street, but questioned whether it was the council's role to impose that onto the ADL's lease approval.

"We're not really a permitting authority here, we're just accepting a lease," said Krol. "Because frankly, if Mildred Elley wanted to go into this space, we wouldn't have any control over that, it would just happen."

The Adult Learning Center provides adult continuing education classes, GED testing, family literacy programs and a number of other free community resources. About 125 individuals utilize the center daily, between day and evening classes.

Tags: adult learning,   city council,   North Street,   retail,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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