$2.2M Price Tag for Springside House Restoration

Architect Lynn Smith was hired to look at the condition and possible reuse of the historic Springside House.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Renovations to Springside House comes with a $2.2 million bill.

A feasibility study performed by CME Architects has developed an estimate to restore the historic building in Springside Park to accommodate an array of uses.

The total, hitting $2.2 million, is looked to be spread out over a long period of time and come from various funding sources, according to the city's Director of Parks and Open Spaces Jim McGrath.

"We will really try to get this project done. The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be," McGrath said, adding that it is eyed to be 10 to 15 years before all of the renovations are completed. "The sooner we get into this project, the better. This is the golden opportunity to put some love back into the Springside House."

First, the city will be prioritizing needs to keep the building from further deteriorating. McGrath specifically said the foundation needs work. Architect Lynn Smith estimated that to cost $170,000.

Smith estimated that just short of $1 million would be needed to bring the building up to some usable conditions and another $1.3 to make it "habitable." The big-ticket items include $645,000 for exterior repairs; adding an elevator at a cost of $200,000 to make the entire building accessible for the public; $315,000 for the mechanical systems; $200,000 for interior renovations and $120,000 for the porches and entrances.

"I know that seems pricey but I think it is a great investment in the Springside House's future," Smith said.

In March, the city held a public meeting to gain ideas for the reuse of the building. That meeting produced a large list of possibilities. Smith reviewed those notes and determined that the building could house nearly all of them at once.

She created two floor plans that divided the rooms into various spaces — from offices to meetings to apartments to event areas and a visitor's center.

Jim McGrath says the project is eyed for 10 to 15 years out.

Nearly half of the respondents (45 percent) voiced support of a visitor's center, which included environmental education and park and city history. Another 28 percent wanted meeting and event spaces; 13 percent, museum spaces; 10 percent, nonprofit and municipal offices, and 4 percent, a housing component.

Smith said all of those options can be addressed at once in the building. And, the possible floor plans show that they can all happen without taking out floors, walls or ceilings. McGrath added that there needs to be an income-generating component involved to help generate funds for the house and the park.

"We have, very intentionally, have sought to respect the original architecture of the house," McGrath said.

The Parks and Open Space Department is currently launching a master plan for the entire Springside Park, which is expected to dovetail into the Springside House's plans, McGrath said.

"I would hope that the master plan or any improvements to the park can happen in tandem with the development of the Springside House," he said.

As for restoration of the home, McGrath said a variety of funds could be sought and that the city is open to considering "creative" partnerships to make it happen.

"We're in this for a long haul. This is not a two-year project. This is in the 10 to 15 year project. But we need to start now," he said.

BRTA Celebrates 50 Years, Electric Buses

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Tuesday, April 30, 2024

State Sen. Paul Mark tries out the seating in a new hybrid bus. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Regional Transit Authority is celebrating its 50th anniversary with new hybrid buses that tell a story about its history.

The BRTA was awarded five eco-friendly buses in the past two years as part of President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law under the Federal Transit Administration's Low or No Grant Program.  Each is valued at about $800,000 and is decorated to represent different BRTA eras.

"It's not for us, it's for our customers," Administrator Robert Malnati said. "It's the reason we're here. We're here to make sure that our customers can go where they need to go when they need to get there in a safe and efficient manner."

Three of the buses have been on the road for about a month and the rest are expected this year.  Paying homage to the BRTA's decades of service to the county, they are wrapped in retro graphic designs that call back to its buses in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

Local and state officials marked the occasion with a ribbon cutting on Monday, highlighting the importance of public transportation and embracing greener technologies to move people around.

The BRTA is looking at hydrogen fuel cell vehicles for the future, which are powered by pure hydrogen gas and emit water vapor.

"As you move forward in upgrading your bus fleet, you are truly transforming our transformation system while protecting our air, our water, and our shared future," Federal Transit Administration Region 1 Administrator Peter Butler said, explaining that it is the FTA's job to support that innovation.

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier said Berkshire County is no different than the rest of state RTAs when it comes to the challenge of securing funding but it does have greater geographical challenges.