Mayor John Barrett points to bright prospects for North Adams

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Just back from some time off, North Adams Mayor John Barrett III sat at his desk Monday, March 27, and spoke of the good things going on in the city. “It’s been unbelievable the amount of good news that’s probably going to be happening over the next 30 to 60 days, which could mean possibly as many as 100 new jobs in the city before the end of the year,” he said, adding that the concern involved is an Internet-related company. “They’re looking at several sites in the city, including the downtown, right now. There’s more than a ... 50 percent chance that that will happen.” In addition, “I have a letter on my desk that arrived just today indicating that a company is looking at 20,000 square feet. They’re very interested in the city, and it could create up to 200 jobs. “But you know, we may not have the room to place all these. Our biggest challenge now is to get some more space at MASS MoCA created,” he added. Creating adequate parking is another challenge. MASS MoCA may have to resurface the dirt lot it owns behind the Big Y supermarket, he said. “I don’t think it’s beyond the realm of possibility that if additional renovations are done at MASS MoCA ... we possibly could have anywhere from 200 to 300 people working there by the end of 2001, and there’s going to have to be a place for them to park,” he added. Barrett, who has served as mayor for 16 years, has in the past month been heavily involved in a controversy over a Website — northadamsfree.com — which charges the mayor with personal and official wrongdoing. Barrett has filed a libel suit in civil court against the two creators of the site, and the case is pending. The Advocate requested an interview with Barrett primarily to find out about the state of various projects in the city. River Street Barrett spoke of the possible development, shrouded in mystery, of a section of the north side of River Street. (See story, page 7). “Because it is ... a totally private-sector investment ... there has to be negotiations completed on that,” he said. “I can say, however, that the plans will probably call for an expenditure in excess of $3 million in that River Street corridor.” “To get that type of investment on River Street, I think, is a very positive thing. At the same time I’ve been in discussions with the state to see if I can’t secure an urban self-help grant, which is usually 50 percent, to develop park land or make available park land,” Barrett said. “What I would like to do is buy property on either side, east and west, of River Street, on the south side, to create park land along the river there.” He said he tried to do this about nine years ago but did not get council approval to purchase one of the properties on the south side near the river. “I will go back and give it another chance. If we apply for this urban self-help grant, we’ve hired appraisers to do appraisals on the property to see what they’re worth. If we can’t negotiate a fair price, then we would probably look at an eminent domain type of thing.” Barrett said he has not seen any definite plans for development on the north side of River Street, though he knows what the conceptual plans are. “It’s not a Super 8 Motel, it’s going to possibly be a bed-and-breakfast, an inn, but it’s not all in concrete just yet,” he said, adding that the project has no public funds. The Blackinton Block “I finally have got what I consider to be a shaky arrangement with some of my downtown landlords, but at least we’re on the same page now,” Barrett said. The mayor was speaking of Scarafoni Associates, who will be spending more than $1 million this year on improvements to the Blackinton Block. This nearly empty property runs along the east side of Holden Street, with commercial storefronts on the first floor and residential spaces on the floors above. The back of the property abuts the city’s Center Street parking lot. Barrett said the city will assist the work with tax breaks and with creating more parking. The project may eventually include knocking down a large back section of the former Newberry’s building to create more private parking for the apartments near or in the Center Street parking lot. Center Street parking lot “I’ve secured an additional $215,000 from the state through our PWED [Public Works Economic Development] program ... so that we can possibly extend the Center Street parking lot, hopefully this summer,” Barrett said. This is contingent upon having the time to design the project and approval from the state highway department. “Center Street will not be a through street any longer — you’ll have entrances from both the east and the west, and there might even be an exit out onto Route 2 itself,” he said. “I’d like to be able to also go out and extend the parking lot out into the middle of Route 2, in other words shrink that macadam expanse ... that sits out there between Big Y and Center Street.” This project would include a veterans memorial plaza near where a fountain now is across from St. Francis Church. The veterans honor roll would eventually be put here, he said. Housing and restaurants Barrett noted that 85 Main Street, an office building that the Center Street parking lot serves, is for sale, and part of the building might eventually be used for housing. “I’m hopeful that with the interest in the city and the new housing that we’re creating, that you will see two or three more restaurants — small restaurants — opening in the downtown area, because they’re going to be needed,” he said. In fact, Barrett said the remaining front part, after any demolition of the back portion, of the Newberry’s building would become an excellent spot for a small restaurant, with venting into an adjacent alley. Smaller specialty restaurants are desirable for downtown, he said. Plans are almost done on restoration of the interior of the historic Mohawk Theater on Main Street. “Our problem is finding $3 million to fund it, and we’re hoping that we’ll find a benefactor. I’m not counting too much on state money now because of the Big Dig. “But I’m looking for a program that hopefully the state will develop for theaters in downtowns throughout Massachusetts,” he said. “There’s an old theater in just about every downtown.” Barrett would like the theater to be able to host plays and concerts. “When it’s all said and done we’ll probably still have 1,000 seats left in there, which is pretty good-sized, obviously and we have the parking in the downtown to afford a large gathering,” he said. “We’re going to get it done, I just don’t know when.” “The greatest challenge we face, however, is that of finding quality housing for the work force that we’re going to need for the new jobs that are being created here,” he said. Other projects Barrett cited the challenge of proceeding with the $18.6 million renovation of Drury High School to create a state-of-the-art facility while at the same time staying well within the constraints of Proposition 2-1/2. Keeping within this limit “is not an easy chore these days because of the uncertain situation with the state and their finances. “With that are coming some other challenges, because we’re not getting the state money to fix our bridges and some of our sidewalks, so we have to address some of those issues,” he said. Barrett also mentioned the work going on at Noel Field athletic complex. The vacant Cariddi building adjacent to the complex will be removed this summer; the city has just awarded the bids to complete a walking track and new fencing at the field. Workers will install a new attractive entrance as well. “My greatest goal is to bring football back there at some point in time,” he said. “We’re going to invest a lot of money in our fields this year.” Barrett said he hopes at some point the city will have control of the National Guard Armory building so it could be turned over to youth groups for youth programs. The planned addition to and renovation of the North Adams Public Library is another ongoing project in the city, he said. Controversy “My biggest struggle, obviously, of being mayor at this time in the city’s history is still dealing with some of the old pettiness that still exists out there,” Barrett said. “They’re more interested in personal politics rather than what is best for the city.” “I was really ... feeling good about the city until — it’s like a walk in the park and then all of a sudden you step into a pothole, and right now I’m dealing with that pothole situation,” he said. “But there’s so much good that’s happening here, and we will continue to do it despite those that [would] like to have me just throw in the towel.” “I’m not throwing in any towel,” he added. “They obviously don’t know my makeup — that the more they back me into a corner on some of this stuff, the angrier I get, the more I want to fight to finish the job.” He added, “At this stage of my career, tenure as mayor, you feel a great deal of satisfaction, but at the same time I’ve learned that the job of a mayor’s never done,” he said. “It’s just never done — you wish it was. When one project is completed, you have to move on to another.” “Everybody thinks North Adams was an overnight success story, and it wasn’t. I mean it was a long, hard struggle and journey,” he said. “Even though the job of mayor is never completed, I want to make sure that when I leave this office that it will take an awful lot of messing up to change where we’re headed and the direction that we’re going in.” Barrett spoke about the “non-sexy,” everyday things a mayor has to do no matter what — such as plow the streets, fill the potholes, make sure there is quality water, while keeping the community affordable. “You can have the best economic development package, the best downtown package, but if you’re not a neighborhood mayor, too, it will divide the city,” he said. The city is in excellent financial shape, he said. To prepare for possible tough economic times in the future, Barrett recently set up three funds with city council approval, saving money for the library renovation fund, the Drury High School renovation fund, and the stabilization fund to deal with infrastructure improvements, he added. Some $200,000 was put into each of these funds, and Barrett said he hopes to do the same next year and each of the next five years until $1 million is in each account. “North Adams is forever changing, and for the good, and for the good,” he said.
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North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring  — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours. 

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls. 

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10  to 5 and Tuesdays 10  to 3 for the holidays. 

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.

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