Jones Block Auction in Adams Postponed

ADAMS, Mass. — The scheduled foreclosure auction of the Jones Block was postponed until March after the developer filed bankruptcy.

A handful of potential bidders and onlookers were gathered outside the buiding at 49-51 Park St. in the frigid air for the start of the auction at 1 p.m. on Thursday. But instead auctioneer Corey Fisher of Aaron Posnik & Co. declared that the auction had been postponed to March 15 at 1 p.m.

The result was the same for companion building at 39-45 Park, set to be auctioned at 1:30. It, too, was postponed to March 15 at 1:30 p.m.

A representative for mortgageholder Hoosac Bank declined to comment on the change of plans, but it was apparently sidelined by the buildings' owner Samel Adams Enterprises LLC filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York, on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Samuel Adams was the limited liability company established by developer Gerardo "Gerry" Sanchez to own and renovate the two buildings. It has a mortgage for $700,00 on the Jones Block and $384,000 on the Carlow building, both taken out from Hoosac Bank in 2008.

The bankruptcy court filing puts the value of the two buildings at $2.125 million and lists only Hoosac Bank as the creditor holding secured claims with a value of $1.28 million. The company estimates its assets at between $1 million and $10 million.

Sanchez, head of Polonia Architectural Restorations, has had his ups and downs. While his company is known for its successful restoration projects, he also ran into bankruptcy trouble in the past and was forced to sell his holdings, according to a 2004 article in the Times-Herald Record of Middletown, N.Y.

Business Success, Storm Clouds Highlighted at 1Berkshire Annual Meeting

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
06:14AM / Saturday, December 06, 2025

Cheshire native JD Chesloff of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable delivers the keynote address on Thursday.

 

ADAMS, Mass. — One of the county's biggest employers and one of its newest small businesses were touted on Thursday at 1Berkshire's annual meeting at the Adams Theater.

 

The vice president of maritime and strategic systems strategy and business development at General Dynamics shared news of a major expansion at the Pittsfield plant.

 

"We plan to hire over 200 employees in Pittsfield over the next 12 to 14 months," Chris Montferret said. "Business is booming. And of those 200 employees, over 200 will be engineers."

 

Currently, General Dynamics employs more than 1,600 people in Pittsfield, up from a low of 500 in 1997, Montferret said, reminding the 1Berkshire membership of the importance of growth for an anchor like his firm.

 

"As you all know as employers, the multiplier of economic development when you bring a full-time employee in is amazing for the entire community," Montferret said.

 

1Berkshire is dedicated to advancing the local economy by advocating for and serving local businesses while helping attract visitors to the region.

 

The development organization's president and CEO used the annual meeting to talk about 1Berkshire's economic development team, which averages more than 100 consultations per year with local entrepreneurs — over 40 percent with businesses owned by women, members of minority groups or immigrants.