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Hotel on North mixed preservation with modern updates in the rehabilitation of the former Besse Clark building.
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The hotel opened to fanfare in June 2015.

Hotel on North & Architect Honored with Preservation Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hotel on North and its architect, Karen T. Hunt, are each being recognized by statewide organizations this spring for the project's preservation efforts.

Hotel on North was the recipient of a 2016 Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Award in the category of Adaptive Reuse for the yearlong rehabilitation and restoration of the Burns Block and New Burns Block. The Massachusetts Historical Commission awarded state historic tax credits to the hotel project in 2015. The hotel will be honored at an awards ceremony on May 19 at the Massachusetts Archives Building.

"Pittsfield has so many beautiful historic structures and stunning architecture, and David and I are thrilled to be able to breathe life back into this magnificent building," said co-owner Laurie Tierney. "We hope others will recognize that Pittsfield is a beautiful city with so much to offer, and will follow in the revitalization efforts."


Hunt, the Pittsfield-based architect of Hotel on North, was a recipient of a Preservation Massachusetts 2016 Paul and Niki Tsongas Award, presented on Wednesday. The theme of the 2016 Award is "Women in Preservation" and Hunt was being recognized for her contributions to preservation efforts in Massachusetts, which include the rehabilitation of the two historic buildings on North Street into Hotel on North.

"These awards are testimony to the difference a thoughtful, committed local team can make," Hunt said. She and the other award recipients were to be honored on Wednesday at the annual Preservation Awards Dinner at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston.

The $14 million rehabilitation project was completed by David J. Tierney Jr. Inc. Main Street Hospitality partnered with David and Laurie Tierney in the development of the 19th-century former Besse Clark Building at 273-297 North St. into 45 rooms, gathering space and the restaurant Eat on North. The high-end boutique hotel opened to acclaim almost a year ago. Earlier this year, Hotel on North was named one of the favorite new hotels of 2015 by Architectural Digest.


Tags: awards,   historic preservation,   mass historic,   motels, hotels,   North Street,   

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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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