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Jill Miller's request to open a children's consignment shop on Ashland Street was approved.
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Eric Rudd's request for a change of use at the former United Methodist Church was approved.
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The Dowlin Block's back side will be knocked down. There is currently no time table.

North Adams Planning Board OKs Dowlin Block Demolition

By John DurkaniBerkshires Staff
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The Planning Board on Monday approved Scarafoni Associates' plan to tear down the back side of the Dowlin Block.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Planning Board on Monday approved a plan to demolish the back end of the Dowlin Block and convert the 65-apartment complex to a 25 units.
 
David Carver of Scarafoni Associates said the move will address parking and the need for market-rate, high-quality apartments.
 
"What we're essentially trying to do is balance the size of the building with the lot," Carver said.
 
Carver said there is no timetable for the project and he is exploring the concept with the city, Historical Commission and Planning Board.
 
The lot, located at 101-107 Main St., will feature five apartments on each floor of the building, an idea Carver said has been contemplated for years.
 
No one will be displaced, as tenants were cleared out last year.
 
Justyna Carlson, chairman of the Historical Commission, said the renovation has been a topic at the last two meetings of her board. She said a formal motion is expected to made at the next meeting. 
 
Resident James Burdick did not like the idea of knocking down the back end.
 
"I collect a lot of North Adams memorabilia. I've got postcards going back to 1900 that shows that building. It's part of the skyline when you look to the west of the Church Street area," Burdick said. "I think this city lost a lot of historical buildings in urban renewal, and I think ripping this section of the building down now, I don't agree with that, I think we're going to lose more of our heritage and Main Street character by ripping down part of that building."
 
City Councilor John Barrett III supports the project and said it will help revitalize downtown.
 
"I'm a supporter of this project. If you're going to rebuild downtown one of the strongest components you have to have is a good housing component," Barrett said. "That can lead to other things happening in the downtown, whether it be shops, whether it be restaurants, and I think this can be a tremendous asset to the city."
 
In other business:
 
 
► The application for the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation, located at the former United Methodist Church, to operate as a museum was approved with the stipulation that Rudd needs to return to the board if he takes in any tenants — nonprofit or otherwise.
 
Rudd did not agree with the stipulation and said the process of returning to the board could take months, citing his challenges so far, including a lost month after the May meeting didn't reach a quorum and getting referred to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a parking variance — a meeting that took place after July's Planning Board meeting.
 
Chairman Michael Leary did not appreciate his complaints and told him it's a common practice to return to the board for changes in use. In addition, he said Rudd had the opportunity to get the variance from the ZBA before June.
 
►The board approved Greylock Bowl and Golf's request to modify its license to include a full-service restaurant, as well as change its color scheme to one of two proposed designs and signage.
 
► Dr. Ralph Blanchard's request to use the 180 Ashland St. lot for employee parking was approved. Blanchard bought the property last year and the single-family home was recently demolished.
 
► Gery Benedetti's application for a traffic pattern change at Best-Way Car Wash, located on River Street, was approved. The change will relieve potential traffic jams on River Street when the car wash closes one bay and adds an automatic unit.
 
► The board denied the application for a Shaker workshop on Ashland Street after a no-show at the meeting.
 
► The application of Consulting and Design LLC for property located at the Shell Station on State Road was withdrawn. The applicant had been asking for postponements for several months.
 
► A sign change for Advance Auto Parts on 63 Veterans Memorial Drive was approved. The shop will now use a more energy-efficient LED light.
 
Prior to the Planning Board meeting, the Redevelopment Authority approved Jill Miller's request to open a children's consignment shop at 18 Ashland St.

 


Tags: demolition,   Dowlin Block,   Main Street,   Planning Board,   

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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