NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Plans for the new Cumberland Farms on Ashland Street finally appear to be moving forward with the closing on the old City Yard last month. 

 

The convenience store chain purchased the property at 227-245 Ashland St. on Friday, June 30.

 

Mayor Thomas Bernard had pushed for the Westborough-based convenience chain to close before the end of the fiscal year, rejecting the company's request for another extension on the purchase-and-sales agreement from October 2017. 

 

Cumberland had offered $575,000 — $100,000 more than the assessed value — with the caveat that up to half that could be offset for cleanup. The chain had been looking for a larger location close to the downtown for several years.

 

In the final deal, the property went for $550,000 with the agreement that Cumberland would pay upfront taxes on a listed price of $575,000, as recorded at the Registry of Deeds. Administrative Officer Michael Canales said there are cleanup costs but the entire amount is not yet known. 

 

The Ashland Street complex had been put to bid with five other properties in 2017 after the city bought the former anodizing plant at Hodges Cross Road to serve as the new City Yard. The former plant has been largely retrofitted to accommodate Highway, Cemetery, Building, and Parks and Recreation Departments and the animal shelter with room to spare. 

 

Cumberland Farms was approved for a 5,800-square-foot store and eight gas pumps last fall but returned to the Planning Board earlier this year with modified plans to reduce the building to around 4,600 square feet and by one parking spot. 

 

The original plans had been to start construction in the spring but is now expected sometime this summer. Two historic place markers on the buildings are set to be preserved and relocated to prominent locations in the new City Yard.