image description

New Bike Racks Installed in Downtown North Adams

Print Story | Email Story
One of two colorful, locally made bike racks installed Wednesday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The odd-looking piping on Main Street isn't modern art — though you'd be excused in this art-filled downtown for thinking so.

Instead, they are very modern bicycle racks meant to encourage two-wheeled, pedal-pushing transportation.

Volunteers installed the "NAMA" racks on Wednesday night in front of Luma's Muffin & Mug and at the pocket park on Eagle Street.


Mass in Motion received a donation to increase bikability in North Adams; the first step was the bike racks so those biking would have a place to stash their two-wheelers. Mass in Motion worked with McCann Technical School and the city on creating and installing the racks.

Metal fabrication teacher John Kline and his students at McCann built the racks. They were then taken to Pittsfield to be sandblasted and powered coated, each one a different color. One more rack is yet to be installed.

"This is a big step for North Adams and will only continue to grow from here," said Amanda Chilson, local project coordinator of the state-funded health and wellness program.


Tags: bicycling,   biking,   downtown,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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."
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories