image description — The bowling lanes in the back will be transformed to a greenhouse.

Greenhouse Project Eyed For Historic Pittsfield Building

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
03:23AM / Friday, November 08, 2013Print Story | Email Story

The First Street building was constructed in 1915.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A greenhouse initiative is eyed for a 98-year-old First Street building.

Blueline Design Inc. and the Tyler Street Business Group are now seeking public interest in a Community Greenhouse Project in the former Eagles Club on First Street. The plan is to create both educational and commercial programs encouraging urban agriculture.

Owner and architect Anthony Barnaba of Blueline says he has filed for a building permit and hopes to have the project up and running in about a year. He is currently reaching out to businesses and non-profit groups to partner in the food purchases and sale as well as educational services.

"Ideally we'd like for it to stand alone on the business side," Barnaba said on Thursday morning, adding that he doesn't want the project to hinge on public monies.

The greenhouse will grow food and sell it to businesses and organizations to continue the operations while the greenhouse will be maintained through providing internship or other educational programs. Barnaba says he will be renovating the area that currently houses bowling lanes to create the greenhouse.

"Its a nice-sized program," Barnaba said of the size. "It will be just enough to get it rolling."

Eventually Barnaba says the Community Greenhouse will narrow its focus to growing a single crop but at this point, he isn't what sure what that will be. He is hoping interested businesses and organizations will help direct that.

"We want to see who may participate," he said. "I'm getting the building permit in place now ... we're working out a business plan."

The building currently houses two commercial spaces, one used by Barnaba's Blueline Design and the other, vacant. The building used to house the Elizabeth Freeman Center and Barnaba purchased it in 2007. Since then, he has been trying to redevelop the 1915 building.

With this idea, the Tyler Street Business Group has signed on to help the project. The group formed to promote economic development in the Morningside neighborhood.

Barnaba says he hopes to fill the commercial spaces as well, believing the community garden could help attract companies.

Tags: business group, gardens, green building, historical building,

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West Nile Virus Confirmed in Mosquitoes From Pittsfield

Staff Reports 02:51PM / Friday, August 14, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced today that West Nile virus (WNV) has been detected in mosquitoes collected from Pittsfield.

The City of Pittsfield has confirmed two isolations at the Pittsfield-Richmond town line on Route 41 and the other at Garland Avenue.

WNV is most commonly transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquitoes that carry this virus are common throughout the state and are found in urban as well as more rural areas. While WNV can infect people of all ages, people over the age of 50 are at higher risk for severe infection.

At the time, there are no confirmed human cases of WNV, but residents are encouraged to take the following actions:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30 percent or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin.
Clothing Can Help reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours - The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. When risk is increased, consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant.

Mosquito-Proof Your Home

Drain Standing Water – Many mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or getting rid of items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools and change water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens - Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all your windows and doors.

While the City of Pittsfield and Berkshire County Mosquito Control project continue to work closely with the MDPH and other agencies, locally we are taking the following actions: larvicide application, conducting targeted education programs, distribution of fact sheets on WNV and on reducing exposure to mosquitos and treating catch basins.

Additional information about WNV and reports on current and historical WNV virus activity in Massachusetts can be found on the MDPH website at: www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.

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