Wheel Estates Residents Lobby Rent Board to Raise Rate

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It wasn't the first time a crowd of irate mobile home owners attended a Mobile Home Rent Control meeting. But Wednesday was surely the first time they had ever demanded a rate increase.

"You're here for the rent control ... Give it to them so we can have a place to live," implored resident David Campbell after the board said it could not act without a formal petition. "We want to live normal like everybody else."

A newly formed tenants cooperative at Wheel Estates is hoping to buy the park for $2.73 million from Morgan Management but has to have its finances in order by March 27. Morgan, which has been shedding real estate holdings in Berkshire County, already has another buyer waiting in the wings.

Wheel Estates residents are worried that will mean another negligent landlord. Rather than see rents go into a corporation's pocket, they want it to go into the detiorating water system, pothole-ridden roads and other neglected infrastructure.

But the tenants' proposal to raise rents $45, to $349 per lot, to qualify for a bank loan and another $1 million for improvement hasn't been able pass the rent board's muster.

City ordinance prevents rent increases to cover "debt service" and the board is the only body that can set rates — no matter what the tenants vote to do.

The board couldn't act all on Wednesday because the tenants had failed to file a petition for a rent increase — and bringing it to the meeting with the filing fee didn't count.

The mistake pointed to the continued difficulties for residents and the nonprofit consultants attempting to facilitate the first tenant ownership in a rent-controlled community and for a board more used to tough negotiations on their behalf with a corporate owner.

Both are after the same result but are having trouble finding a way to walk the same path to get there.

But any doubt that tenants are behind an increase could be dismissed Wednesday. More than 30 people attended the meeting to advocate for the purchase; more than half the 185-unit park has paid the $100 fee to join the cooperative.
 

"The residents want to own it because of their desire to improve it rather than spend the money on rent for nothing," said Jesse Martinez, vice president of the Tenants Association. "We're showing that we can do it as a resident-owned community."

The tenants said they would file the petition in the morning; the next meeting was set for Tuesday, March 19, at 5 p.m.

North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:34PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025

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.