Pittsfield Board OKs Turning Former Notre Dame School Into Apartments

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
08:21PM / Tuesday, February 05, 2013Print Story | Email Story

The old Notre Dame will be turned into modern apartments.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former Notre Dame School at the corner of Melville and First streets is on pace to be an 11-unit apartment complex by fall.

The Community Development Board approved a special permit Tuesday for Scarafoni Associates to transform the classrooms on the top two floors into rental units.

"We hope to start work at the end of March," owner David Carver said. "We hope to have these ready for the market in the fall."

The plan is to demolish a home at the corner of First Street to make it a yard, eliminate a curb cut to the property there and widen the entrance on the Melville Street side.

A contractor is already lined up for the demolition is expected to begin in the next two weeks.

From there the top two floors will be converted to "nice, modern" apartments that retain some of the key features of the old school. The apartments will retain the 12-foot high ceiling to have a "loft-type feel," Carver said.

"We are proposing to do 11 total units. We'll have nine one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units," said Robert McIntosh of Bradley Architects Inc., who presented the plans to the board.

Because the rooms are open space now and the building's frame is still good, the work shouldn't take long, Carver said.

Scarafoni Associates purchased the property in December from Sam Kasten, who operates a weaving business there. Kasten will continue to occupy the bottom floor.

"His business has changed and he doesn't need all of the space. He is going to scale back his operation," Carver said.

Overall, Carver estimates more than $1 million will be put into the project. The plan is supported by Ward 2 City Councilor Kevin Morandi.

"I feel this would be a great addition to the neighborhood," Morandi said, adding that the location is perfect for housing because of its proximity to the Common, downtown and the Morningside neighborhood.

Now with the special permit, Carver just needs McIntosh to finish design work and file for building permits before construction can begin.

Tags: apartments, church reuse, housing, redevelopment,

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Pittsfield Committee Recommends Scanlon for City Audit

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:30AM / Thursday, August 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After the bid for a new auditing company came back over 30 percent higher, Pittsfield will stick with Scanlon and Associates.

On Tuesday, the Auditing Services Evaluation Committee voted to advance Scanlon to the City Council for an independent audit. CliftonLarsonAllen also responded to the bid, but came in costing $120,000 more.

"I have to go with saving money for the city. I mean, the discrepancy is too much of a difference," committee member Karen Kalinowsky said.

"The city could have use for that difference over the next three years."

This process was prompted by Rule 40 of the council rules and the City Charter, where in any year the City Council votes to hold a procurement process for an independent certified public accountant or firm to audit Pittsfield's books and accounts, the city must, through its Finance Committee with the assistance of the purchasing department, solicit requests for proposals or invitations for bids before June 1.

The council in March recommended that the purchasing agent draft a request for proposals and put it out to bid.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, who has been vocally in favor of the independent audit for years, said the city doesn't have to follow a bidding process for the professional service, "We are doing this so the public knows that we're being professional, and a looking for other options, looking at what the best options are, and comparing them based on what they can offer and what the cost is."

Board member Kathy Amuso said both CLA and Scanlon have equitable reviews with high recommendations. Especially considering the budget crisis Pittsfield is in, she moved to recommend Scanlon to the full council.

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