Williamstown Commons has been purchased by Berkshire Healthcare.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Willowood Extended Care Services, a subsidiary of Berkshire Healthcare Systems, has purchased three nursing facilities it operates through a $30 million tax-exempt bond issued by Massachusetts Development Corp.
North Adams Commons, Williamstown Commons and Fairview Commons in Great Barrington will join the portfolio of Berkshire Healthcare, the largest nonprofit provider of skilled nursing services in the Berkshires. The company also owns Hillcrest Commons in Pittsfield and owns or operates 13 other facilities in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Lisa Gaudet, vice president for business development and marketing at Berkshire Healthcare, described the purchase as "a natural progression."
"We've been involved with the operation of these facilities for so long, when the opportunity presented itself ... with the support of lenders we were able to put together a financing package," she said.
The properties had been part of Willowood Inc., one of several companies established by the late Arthur J. Ivey, who owned a number of nursing care facilities in the Berkshires. Ivey died in 2007.
Willowood Extended Care has been operating the three nursing homes for the past decade. Gaudet said the purchase wasn't an indication of a change in operation but rather an opportunity to continue working with its current staff, providers and clients.
"I think it was just a question of timing and [Ivey's] estate looking to transfer ownership to the operators who had operated these facilties in a very positive manner," she said.
BHS took possession on the properties on Dec. 29, 2010, with the aid of MassDevelopment, the state's finance and development authority, which helped put the financing structure together.
The state agency issued the tax-exempt bonds that were bought by TD Banknorth with Berkshire Bank participating.
"Skilled nursing facilities are invaluable for those with rehabilitation and long-term care needs," said MassDevelopment President and CEO Robert L. Culver. "WECS represents a key provider of this type of care in Berkshire County, and this tax-exempt financing will ensure the organization can continue to meet the needs of patients."
Kelsey Abbruzzese, spokeswoman for MassDevelopment, said the bonding amount was not unusual. "The bond amounts range depending on the size of the project, the kind of project," she said, and projects must be credit-worthy and fill a public purpose. "Berkshire Healthcare Systems ... that's a great public purpose."
A bond is not a loan; however, the participating bank or banks can purchase it tax-exempt and pass the savings on to the borrower, in this case Willowood Extended Care.
Most recently, the agency issued $14.5 million in bonds for 300 units of affordable housing in Leominster and $1.4 million in industrial development bonds to help Mayhew Steel Products in Montague build an addition. During fiscal 2010, MassDevelopment financed or managed 238 projects in 104 communities across the state generating investment of nearly $1.4 billion in the Massachusetts economy.
"This financing structure advances our strategic interests in Berkshire County and will enable us to continue to invest in effective and necessary post-acute and long-term care programs and services for the residents of this community," said William C. Jones, executive vice president of Berkshire Healthcare. "We are grateful to MassDevelopment, TD Bank and all of the professionals engaged in this financing project for the support and confidence they have in us."
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Pittsfield 2025 Year in Review
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city continued to grapple with homelessness in 2025 while seeing a glimmer of hope in upcoming supportive housing projects.
Founders James Shulman and his wife, Jackie, offered it to the city through a conveyance and donation of property, which was met with some hesitation before it was withdrawn.
Now, a group of more than 50 volunteers learned everything from running the ride to detailing the horses, and it is run by nonprofit Berkshire Carousel Inc., with the Shulmans supporting operating costs.
Median and Camping Petitions
Conversations about homelessness resumed in Council Chambers when Mayor Peter Marchetti proposed a median standing and public camping ban to curb negative behaviors in the downtown area. Neither of the ordinances reached the finish line, and community members swarmed the public comment podium to urge the city to lead with compassion and housing-first solutions.
"If you look at this as a public safety issue, which I will grant that this is entirely put forward as a public safety issue, there are other issues that might rate higher that need our attention more with limited resources," said former Ward 7 councilor Rhonda Serre.
Protesters and public commenters said the ordinance may be framed as a public safety ordinance, but actually targets poor and vulnerable community members, and that criminalizing activities such as panhandling and protesting infringes on First Amendment rights and freedom of speech.
Some housing solutions came online in 2025 amidst the discourse about housing insecurity in Pittsfield.
The city celebrated nearly 40 new supportive units earlier in December. This includes nine units at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
These units are permanent supportive housing, a model that combines affordable housing with voluntary social services.
Pittsfield supported the effort with $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and some Community Development Block Grant funds. Hearthway, formerly Berkshire Housing Development Corp., is managing the apartments and currently accepting applications.
After the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee completed its work with a formal recommendation in 2024, news about the park was quiet while the city planned its next move.
The ice rink was originally proposed for Clapp Park, but when the project was put out to bid, the system came back $75,000 higher than the cost estimate, and the cost estimates for temporary utilities were over budget. The city received a total of $200,000 in donations from five local organizations for the effort.
Last year, there was $18 million committed between grant funding and capital borrowing.
The Parks Commission recently accepted a negotiating rights agreement between the city and longtime summer collegiate baseball team, the Pittsfield Suns, that solidifies that the two will work together when the historic ballpark is renovated.
It remains in effect until the end of 2027, or when a license or lease agreement is signed. Terms will be automatically extended to the end of 2028 if it appears the facility won't be complete by then.
William Stanley Business Park
Site 9, the William Stanley Business Park parcel, formerly described to have looked like the face of the moon, was finished in early 2025, and the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority continues to prepare for new tenants.
Mill Town Capital is planning to develop a mixed-use building on the 16.5-acre site, and housing across Woodlawn Avenue on an empty parcel. About 25,000 cubic yards of concrete slabs, foundations, and pavements had to be removed and greened over.
There is also movement at the Berkshire Innovation Center as it begins a 7,000-square-foot expansion to add an Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Tech Hub and bring a new company, Myrias, to Pittsfield.
Voters chose new City Council members and a largely new School Committee during the municipal election in November. The council will be largely the same, as only two councilors will be new.
Earl Persip III, Peter White, Alisa Costa, and Kathleen Amuso held their seats as councilors at large. There were no races for wards 1, 3, and 4. Patrick Kavey was re-elected to Ward 5 after winning the race against Michael Grady, and Lampiasi was re-elected to Ward 6 after winning the race against Walter Powell.
Nine candidates ran to fill the six-seat committee. Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Daniel Elias, Katherine Yon, Heather McNeice, and Carolyn Barry were elected for two-year terms.
Katherine Nagy Moody secured representation of Ward 7 over Anthony Maffuccio, and Cameron Cunningham won the Ward 2 seat over Corey Walker. Both are new to the council.
In October, Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre stepped down to work for the Pittsfield Public Schools.
In 2025, the city remained challenged by the homelessness crisis, though the development of new supportive housing offered a promising outlook. click for more
The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. click for more
Disrepaired houses at 154 Francis Ave. and 224 Fourth St. will be demolished as part of the city's yearly efforts to address condemned properties. click for more
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Northumberland Road.
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