Berkshire Carousel Gives Mall Another Look
 The Berkshire Carousel is hoping to renovate two vacant storefronts at the Berkshire Mall previously occupied by a sports store and jewelry store. |
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Berkshire Carousel is closer to finding a permanent home ... at the Berkshire Mall.
Carousel officials are hoping to reach a deal for two spaces at the mall after a plan to build new at Laston Park has fallen through.
"It's not possible [at Laston]. There wouldn't have been enough room," Maria Caccaviello, Berkshire Carousel executive director, said on Tuesday. "The carousel is just a piece of the project... it would have to be fairly large."
The nonprofit's been housed at the mall for two years as it worked on the handcarved rides for the $1 million project.
Pittsfield had expected to host the carousel but couldn't reach a deal. Carousel officials had hoped to stay at the mall but the cost lead them to property at Bill Laston Memorial Park earlier this year.
In June, town meeting had narrowly approved a bonding authorization for up to $500,000 to fund the Laston project, and match a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The MCC on Monday announced $250,000 for the project, half what Carousel officials had hoped for.
Officials say the ground at Laston Park also wouldn't support the weight. The organization was hoping to build a 12,000 square-foot building that included not only the carousel but an event room for weddings and birthday parties, gift shop and a cafe, all of which Caccaviello said is needed to support the business plan.
Board of Selectmen Chairman John Goerlach confirmed Monday night that there were "seismic" concerns at Laston so the town is now working with the Carousel to find a new location.
Caccaviello said Carousel representatives walked various properties with town officials and have narrowed the options down to four, with space at the Berkshire Mall being the front runner.
"The mall is a serious option," Caccaviello said while walking around the former sports store (Old Navy before that) on the south end of the mall. "It is good here because of the amenities."
Ideally, the organization would be able to take over half of the large space and an adjacent space, a former jewelry store, at a corner near Macy's. The former jewelry store would be converted to a gift shop with the wall separating the two spaces torn down. A cafe and event area would also be created.
 The vacant store has enough room for the carousel but the organization needs to know if the ground underneath can support it. |
However, Town Administrator Paul Sieloff says the town won't be able to bond to renovate the mall space even though the vote approval wasn't specifically tied to Laston Park.
Voters agreed to bonding the money because they would at minimum receive the building if the Carousel failed. That wouldn't be true of renovated space at the mall so the Carousel would have to find another way to match the grant.
"We're really just waiting to see what the end results are," Sieloff said on Tuesday.
Caccaviello hopes to know if the mall space can be used by the end of the month. Berkshire Mall had previously entered negotiations with the Carousel but the leasing price was too high at the time. Now the two sides are trying to reach a deal.
Once an agreement is worked out, the Carousel would need to perform a $10,000 study to find out if the ground will be able to support the ride.
"It has to be something that holds 30,000 pounds, spinning," Caccaviello said. "You can't tell just by vision."
If all goes well, Caccaviello says the organization could be "having a new New Year's party." If the mall does not work out, the group will be looking at construction at the other locations.
A new building would cost $1.2 million, Caccaviello said, so renovating an existing space is more cost effective. The group originally applied for $500,000 in grant funds with a match for a $1 million budget. Now, with $500,000 — $250,000 each from the town and cultural council — the organization would need to raise an additional $600,000 to build.
Meanwhile, the 33 horses that will be on the carousel have been completed by volunteers and the carousel itself has been ordered. Volunteers are studying to receive state certification to operate it.
"The only things not done are the three chariots," she said.
Tags: berkshire carousel, Berkshire Mall, carousel,
