Three Businesses to Open in Adams' Mausert Block

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Two restaurants and a dance studio are set to open in the Mausert Block later this summer.

ADAMS, Mass. — Three businesses have been approved to open in the Mausert Block by the end of the summer.

Owners REDPM were granted a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals allowing two restaurants and a performance arts school in the newly renovated building. A pizza place, hibachi grill and the arts school is expected to open after finish work is completed.

"By the end of the summer or fall, we hope to have everything up and running," said Stephen Stenson of REDPM on Wednesday.

The real estate development and management company has been working on the former Woolworth's building since purchasing it last year. The 90-year-old building had been vacant for several years.

Stenson expects that after an appeal period, the developers can begin working on the interior, which includes "substantial finishings," electrical and some structural changes. The work will take between four and eight months and will include a REDPM office, the three businesses and initial work on the upstairs apartments.

"The first step is to get our office up and running," Stenson said.

The company hopes to build 11 apartments on the upper levels and Stenson said he expect those to go on the market in summer 2014.



The building permits are all in place but the company does still need final site plan approval, Stenson said, adding he was is confident that those will be approved.

The pizza place, 21 Park Pizza, is planned to be a gourmet shop that sells pizza by the slice. At night, the place will have music and board games to become a destination for the younger crowd. The space will have 30 to 40 seats.

At 23 Park St., the restaurant Adams Fusion will serve Chinese and Japanese fusion, including hibachi. It will offer both takeout and seating for 40 to 60. The eatery will be in the spot with the "cafe style" windows that fully open to Park Street and outdoor seating that faces the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which will provide an additional 40 to 60 seats.

The performing arts school will be in the rear of 21 Park St. and provide about 30 classes per week with most of its students from the local area. That location will also open up to the rail trail.

"We're happy that we've got some local businesses in there," Stenson said, adding that the business owners are from the county and REDPM has been working closely with the town and Adams Community Bank. "Everything was done on the local level."


Tags: Mausert Block,   new business,   Park Street,   

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Adams Prudential Committee Evaluating Truck Replacement

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — The Fire Department's Engine 2 is suffering from rust and the Prudential Committee needs to decide if it should be fixed or run until it can be replaced. 
 
Fire Chief David Lennon told the Prudential Committee on Monday about the condition of the 20-year-old truck and acknowledged it's going to be an costly endeavor. 
 
"If we choose to do this, it's going to be so expensive that it would have to be put out for multiple people to look at and possibly bid on, but moreover, we have to look at what the long-term plans are to decide if we want to spend that money on that truck," he said. "If we're going to replace it on its usual schedule, which would be in under 10 years now, so we have to decide."
 
Lennon said his thought was that it was similar to getting a medical diagnosis: since they've got one opinion, "it'd behoove us to get a second opinion to see.
 
"We see that it's rusting, but is that rust going to be completely detrimental to running that for the period that we want to run it for, and have somebody else look at it now," he said. "As far as who that would be, I don't know, but I think that's what we should discuss and see moving forward."
 
The committee set a workshop for Friday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m.
 
Superintendent John C. Barrett said he plans to install a new system and water main for the Adams Housing Authority's 64 one-bedroom units in the Columbia Valley facility, which will mean a new suppression system for all of the buildings.
 
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