image description
The historic mill is home to some 40 businesses and will welcome a new one this fall.

Wayfair Finalizes Lease For Clocktower Building

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wayfair has finalized a lease in the Clocktower Building and expects to move in this fall.
 
Spokeswoman Molly Delaney said on Friday that the lease has been finalized at 75 South Church St. in Building 3. The company will occupy 40,000 square-feet.
 
The former Sheaffer-Eaton Mill, now known as the Clocktower Building, is owned by CT Management under the holding company Clocktower Partners LLC. The company purchased the building for $1 million in 2016.
 
Wayfair  is planning a service center in the portion of the building which sits between the Clocktower Condos and the main office space area. The expansion into Pittsfield will come with the creation of 300 new jobs to the city, which is considered one of the city's biggest economic development wins in a number of years.
 
Wayfair's total expansion will be 3,300 after the state approved $31.4 million in tax breaks to the Boston-based retailer. The majority of the jobs will be in the Boston area with 300 coming to Pittsfield. The home-decor company is owned by Niraj Shah, a Pittsfield native, who has reportedly teased the idea that there could be more expansion into the Berkshire in the future.
 
The e-commerce company is expected to hire 265 customer service representatives and 35 managers at the Pittsfield location. It will be the company's ninth call center.
 
When the announcement was made in December there was no location identified though it was widely known that the Clocktower building was the leading potential location. 
 
The mill was constructed in 1883 by Eli Terry. A decade later it was sold to Arthur W. Eaton who turned it into the Sheaffer-Eaton mill (after a merger with the Sheaffer pens) and employed a total of 900 people at one point.
 
In 1987, the mill was sold to Miller family, then owners of The Berkshire Eagle. In the 1990s, the Millers renovated the entire building into offices and moved paper's operation there. Miller sold the building and business to Media News Group, which then sold it to CT Management.
 
The large complex houses around 40 businesses but was reportedly only about 60 to 75 percent occupied when CT Management purchased it. Delaney said she expects the company to move into the location this fall.

Tags: wayfair,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Nonprofit Leaders Recognized for Service to Berkshire County

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Associate Director McCaela Donovan, left, and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires founder Liana Toscanini open the award ceremony.
 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Seven nonprofit leaders, described as "the best of who we are," have been recognized for their drive to make the Berkshires a better place.

The Nonprofit Center of The Berkshires held its 8th annual award ceremony on Tuesday at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

"What I love about this room is that it's a lot of nonprofit people and a lot of people who support nonprofits," said Liana Toscanini, founder and executive director of the Berkshire NPC.

"And I think that's something that we try to do, is introduce people face to face. So, faces behind the checks that support your work, faces of the people who actually do the work."

Board Chair Emily Schiavoni said that in a time when headlines warn of federal funding cuts and uncertainty it is more important than ever that people come together.

"And here in Berkshire County, we do," she said.

"We lean on each other, we support each other, we carry forward the essential work of caring for our communities together. Today is a celebration of the nonprofits, the volunteers, and dedicated individuals who rise above the challenges to make a difference. Your work uplifts lives, strengthens our communities, and reflects the very best of who we are."

Honorees include Berkshire Immigrant Center Executive Director Melissa Canavan, former board president and vice president of the Berkshire County Historical Commission Cynthia Farr Brown, Literacy Network volunteer and board member Pamela Conroy Breslin, Arts in Recovery for Youth program manager Rachael Bentz, Fairview Hospital Director of Community Relations and Development Lauren Smith, youth and wellness guide at Berkshire HorseWorks Chris Ciepiela, and Berkshire Environmental Action Team Executive Director Jane Winn.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories