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Ready Set Learn purchased the building in April.
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Renovations are expected to wrap up in a few weeks.
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The pews were removed from the former sanctuary area, a new ceiling was installed, and it will now be one of three classrooms.
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The condition of the church when the Fawcetts first purchased it.

Ready Set Learn Renovating St. Martin's Church Into Preschool

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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The interior is getting a full renovation.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ready Set Learn is expanding after purchasing and renovating the former St. Martin's Episcopal Church on Dalton Avenue.
 
Owner Melissa Fawcett is moving the business from a residential home on Virginia Avenue to the former church in time for the next school year.
 
Currently, the renovations are underway, creating three classrooms and play space. The preschool is also fundraising to build a playground outside.
 
"The biggest thing for us was the indoor play space. We don't have a gym and in the winter you are inside a lot. They are little and they need to play. So we liked that there was a huge area for the kids to play," Fawcett said.
 
Fawcett and her husband, Ken, started the school four years ago. The former public school teacher was looking for a preschool for their son and ultimately the couple opted to start their own.
 
"I was a public school teacher for 10 years. At the time we had a 4-year-old son, so we were looking around for preschools and we weren't finding what we liked. A really wanted him to be challenged academically. So we ended up doing our own thing," Fawcett said.
 
Now there are six teachers working at the school. It had previously taught just 4-year-olds but now is able to offer classes for 3-year-olds as well. The preschool does a full-day program, which most preschools do not have, Fawcett said. They purchased the building from the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts in April.
 
"We've been open for four years and we've had a wait list every year. Now we have 46 kids enrolled for next year and we still have a little bit more room," Fawcett said.
 
The renovations are expected to be done in a few weeks. While the church was structurally sound, a significant amount of interior renovations were needed. The couple put in a new heating and cooling system, ducts, lights, and windows, and painted and dropped the ceiling in the former sanctuary area.
 
Contractors had to excavate about 6 feet of land and cut out a portion of the foundation to put in a required egress from the basement level. Walls were torn down and others were put up to divide the space and new fencing is expected to go up around the outdoor play area. 
 
In total, Fawcett said the cost for the renovation came in around $170,000.
 
"It is quite extensive," she said.
 
Marcella Building & Renovation has been working on the site, based on plans crafted by Hill Engineering, for about two months. In July, Ready Set Learn is looking to host an event to show off the renovations. The couple also hopes to have the playground in place in time for the next school year. The commercial structure costs $8,000 and so far through a GoFundMe campaign, Ready Set Learn has raised $2,000.
 
The building dates back to 1910 and the church hall was added to it in 1963. The church was closed a few years back and has sat vacant since. Fawcett looked to purchase it last year but the timing didn't work out.
 
"It was a long process. We started a year ago. We didn't have enough time to renovate because we do school year to school year. We open in September. So we took our offer off the table and then this year tried again. We got everything to align correctly," Fawcett said.
 
The preschool runs concurrently with the traditional school year, starting in September. Fawcett said there are still a few spots available.

Tags: church reuse,   preschool,   

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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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