Pittsfield to Demo Derelict Dry Cleaners for City Hall Parking

By Joe DurwinPittsfield Correspondent
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Stetson Dry Cleaners, built in 1948, will be razed and eventually used for parking.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will soon demolish a longtime dry cleaning business adjacent to City Hall whose building has fallen into disrepair and been abandoned by its owner.
 
City Planner Cornelius J. Hoss told the Pittsfield Historical Commission on Monday that the former Stetson's Dry Cleaning on Federal Street will be torn down within the next two months.
 
The notice was advisory, as the property is not old enough to come up for review and approval by the commission under the criteria of the city's Demolition Delay ordinance.
 
The dilapidated building, which lies sandwiched between City Hall and the larger Howard Building currently being redeveloped for apartments, was constructed in 1948 at a cost of $50,000 by Earl J. Stetson, and remained in the Stetson family until 1996.
 
At the time of its opening, Stetson was "hailed as the most modern dry cleaning plant in the area," according to its Form B inventory for the Mass. Historical Commission by historian Lisa Sauer. The 7,000-square-foot shop also included a fur storage vault and repair shop.
 
According to city records, it was ultimately purchased by Sandhu Narinder, but has been vacant for several years. After finding the building abandoned, unlocked and open to the elements in May, the city issued a summons to Narinder giving 24 hours to correct and abate the problem by demolition.
 
The city will now take ownership of the property, but that process will take time due to the environmental issues, though demolition of the blighted property is not dependent on that timetable.  
 
"For now, even without owning it, we can take it down," explained Hoss, who said the city will use federal money from this year's Community Development Block Grant to fund its removal. "It'll probably be a year or two before we actually take ownership."
 
There have been environmental concerns about redevelopment of the property, because of the possibility of contamination by chemicals used in the dry cleaning operation, leading to the determination to demolish the building and cap the parcel, utilizing it only for parking in the foreseeable future.
 
"It's anticipated that there really isn't that much contamination." Hoss told the commission. "At some point if there's enough for demand for property, it's a buildable lot so it could be used down the road as that, but for now it just makes sense for us to cap it."
 
From 10 to 15 parking spaces would result from the eventual lot at the site.
 
"We probably won't be parking there from day one, but we hope it will be soon [after taking ownership]," said Hoss.

 


Tags: contamination,   demolition,   historical commission,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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