Long-Closed Gas Station to Reopen in North Adams' West End
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The West End should soon have a gas station and convenience store soon after several years without.
The former Getty station at 330 State Road is being reopened as a Valero station and its convenience store will have some upgrades.
The station was closed in 2015 in preparation of demolition and reconfiguring the lot for a 4,000 square foot convenience store. But that never happened and the special permit lapsed last year.
The Planning Board and inspection services had reached out numerous times over the past couple years to find out what the plans were for that station and another at Eagle and Canal owned by the same company. The Eagle Street facility had no gasoline but plans had been approved for reconstruction. When work never occurred, the kiosk that had been selling cigarettes and lottery tickets for years was ordered closed for being out of compliance with the property's permit.
A few months ago, work began on upgrading the tanks and pumps at the State Road facility but the new owner was advised that the station could not reopen without another permit.
Approval for that came last week from the Planning Board, which was disappointed that the new plans were nominal.
"We're going to make it safe and suitable for the public," said Mark Smith, designer for owner Boon Properties LLC of Hyde Park, N.Y. "I might call it a reactivation of the station. ... There's no addition, no new construction. It's just to get it up and running."
Boon purchased both the 330 State Road Getty station for about $180,100 and the former BP station for $59,100 from Leemilt Petroleum of Jericho, N.Y. Smith said past plans had been under Summit Distributing but one of the partners had backed out.
Boon principal Nadirshan Daredia said he was putting "quite a bit of investment" into the facility. Smith said the long-term plans were for a larger convenience store but that was not feasible at this point.
Smith described the plans as a "reactivation" of the existing building with some interior improvements for safety and security and reconfiguration to provide space for more merchandise options. The bathroom will be upgraded and a coffee bar will be added along with reach-in coolers. The current canopy will remain with new signage.
Planner Lisa Blackmer said her idea of a convenience store would be offering nutritional food beyond just cigarettes, snack food or alcohol. The city has been discussing the lack of food choices in the Greylock neighborhood after the closure of Price Chopper more than a year ago, she noted.
"We're putting in six door-coolers to take care of what you're asking," Daredia said. "People are coming to us and say, 'when are you guys going to open?' because they don't have anywhere to go."
Planner Kyle Hanlon wanted more detailed plans for the signage and parking to be added to the application.
Vice Chairman Brian Miksic, acting in Chairman Michael Leary's absence, said it was apparent there wasn't going to be a new store at this point and noted the owner had already invested a half-million into the fueling upgrades.
"We have to decide if we want a closed gas station," he said. "There's no gas between Williamstown and downtown North Adams."
The special permit was approved and Boon Properties told to submit more detailed signage and parking plans through inspection services.
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