Pittsfield's Center Named Growth District
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PITTSFIELD — City officials are hoping the long-simmering William Stanley Business Park will finally get cooking now that it's been identified as one of Gov. Deval Patrick's 16 municipal growth districts.
The governor hinted at the economic stimulus initiative at a Berkshire Chamber of Commerce breakfast in March. Combined with some $18 million in work-force training grants being awarded through June, the targeted districts will be given priority in terms of administrative support and permitting in conjunction with local officials.
"This is not the state saying what businesses are most important, it's about local communities saying what business is most appropriate and about our having a partnership in that dialogue," said Patrick at a press conference at City Hall on Friday, surrounded by diagrams touting the city's newest housing and commercial projects.
In addition to the designation, Crane & Co. received $191,000 in work-force grants to train 210 employees in lean and waste-reduction techniques. Patrick said some 200 companies and 16,000 workers will benefit from training grants.
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"This is going to help us accelerate development at sites that our local leaders have selected as the most compatible for development," said state Rep. Christopher N. Speranzo, D-Pittsfield, adding that it was an example of the administration listening to communities.
The existing Pittsfield Urban Center Revitalization District covers downtown Pittsfield, including the Intermodal Transportation Center and the Berkshire Medical Center, and south to the business park on the former GE site off East Street. It also includes an arts overlay district and state Chapter 43D priority development, allowing for streamlined permitting and qualification for a variety of state and federal tax incentives.
Pittsfield's central core is the eighth growth district named by Patrick, who said the benefits accorded each site depend on its needs. The business park, operated by the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, would likely need more in terms of marketing and permitting than other districts while others might benefit from infrastructure improvements. The mix covers commercial, retail and housing.
The initiative is based on the successful model of Fort Devens, which has been transformed over the last decade from a 4,400-acre polluted Army base into a burgeoning village with a thriving commercial district through a partnership between federal, state and local agencies and its community.
"We have a whole portfolio of destinations," said Patrick. "Being able to say to a company considering an expansion site, consider PEDA and here's why and here's some to the elements we can make available to you to assist ... is powerful."
The 52-acre PEDA site is a result of the consent agreement made with GE nearly a decade ago. Planned as a economic engine on the brownfields site, the project has been languishing. Its proposed first tenant, Unistress, cancelled plans for multimillion-dollar facility last summer over construction issues.
However, the $1 billion life sciences bill nearing completion in the Legislature contains $6.5 million for an incubator site at the park. The growth district designation is considered another boost for the project.
PEDA Executive Director Thomas Hickey Jr. said the help will be essential to continuing to market the park. As to its effect on the downtown district, "anything we can point to show the progress we're making certainly helps us a lot."
One of the things city officials were eager to point to was plans by Great Barrington developer Richard Stanley to turn the deteriorating Kresge-Kinnell Building into a movie house and retail center. The $22-plus million project, dubbed the Beacon Cinema, is expected to be an important anchor for North Street's retail and cultural revival.
Escorted by Mayor James M. Ruberto and Stanley, Patrick picked his way through the rubble and perused the plans for the cinema, which is being funded by a broad range of private and public partners.
The City Council will take up a request on May 27 to loan the project $1.1 million from the GE Development Fund, which could mean a groundbreaking in July for the long-delayed project.
The growth designation won't have an effect on the cinema project, said Stanley afterward. "But in a way, this being a catalyst project, when people look to relocate in some of these areas, the PEDA area, when executives come and want to know 'what are my people going to do in the evening,' they'll now have an answer. That's where this whole partnership and things working together come in."
Patrick stopped to greet citizens on the walk back to City Hall; he also was to swear in Judge Richard Simons at Berkshire Superior Court as a probate and family court associate circuit justice in the afternoon. Simons' appointment was first announced by Patrick on Jan. 22.
Among the civic and community leaders in attendance were state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, Rep. Denis E. Guyer and Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, who, along with Speranzo, were obviously pleased with the city's recognition and optimistic about its future.
Guyer noted the thousands who streamed to North Street on Thursday night for 3rd Thursday kickoff events. "We keep saying Pittsfield's coming back but if you were walking around last night, you would say it's already back."
None were more effusive than Ruberto, who lauded Patrick for his support and commitment to being "governor of the whole commonwealth."
"We want to thank you for the help and guidance we've received from your administration," said the mayor. "Our community development efforts have been tremendously aided. I can assure you we're committed to aggressively using all the economic development help you give us and we're also committed to using all the affordable housing [aid] that have been presented to us.
"Thank you for being our friend, thank you for being my friend."
Tags: beacon cinema, berkshire innovation center, business park, creative economy, North Street, PEDA,
