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The former Sheaffer Eaton mill complex now houses the Berkshire Eagle and other offices.

Developer Carver Buys Pittsfield Clock Tower Building

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The original Sheaffer Eaton mill, with the clocktower to the left.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Developer David Carver has purchased the Clock Tower building on South Church Street.
 
The building houses The Berkshire Eagle and a number of offices. Recently, The Eagle was sold by Media News Group to a team of investors but the building remained in the hands of the parent company Digital First Media. Carver, as part of a new enterprise named Clock Tower Partners LLC, has purchased the 130-year-old complex and has plans for a multi-year renovation.
 
"These investments will position the property to be a leading location to find cost effective and attractive office space in central Berkshire County. The complex is very large and can accommodate many large and small tenants so it is believed that networking and other synergies will be an added benefit to businesses that locate there," reads a press released issued by Berkshire Bank, who provided the financing. 
 
The renovations are eyed to include energy efficiency, general property improvements and custom build outs for new and existing tenants. 
 
The Clock Tower building went on the market in 2014 with an asking price of $2.5 million but the actual sale price was not disclosed on Thursday. The media company had been separating its real estate holdings from the newspaper operations of papers it owned throughout the country. The building is the former Sheaffer Eaton paper mill complex and was renovated in the early 1990s. It was sold in 1995 to Media News Group. Parts of it date to 1883 when it was constructed for the Terry Clock Co.
 
Carver already owns the attached Clock Tower Condominiums after purchasing that section in 2007. Through demolition and re-use, that section was transformed into 23 condominiums.
 
Both the paper and the building were up for sale and, in April, the paper's operations were sold to local owners. The intent had been to sell the structure and the newspaper to continue as its tenant.
 
"Clock Tower Partners applauds the investment made by the new owners of the Berkshire Eagle and looks forward to the benefits of returning this important institution to local ownership," the press release reads.
 
The property will be managed by CT Management Group, which is led by Carver and Peter Ticconi, both of Williamstown. The management group is a complement company to Carver's real estate holdings in Scarafoni & Associates. 
 
Berkshire Bank says it "sees both the purchase of the building and the recent purchase of the Berkshire Eagle newspaper by investors with local ties to the Berkshires as an important step toward strengthening the Berkshire County Economy."

Tags: mill reuse,   newspaper,   Real Estate,   

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Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 
 
"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 
 
The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine 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. 
 
The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 
 
Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center
 
The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 
 
The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.
 
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