NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city received only one response in its search for a restaurateur to operate a cafe at Harriman & West Airport.
Administrative Officer Michael Canales reported that one party responded to the request for proposals bid that closed at the end of January but was not concerned.
"It is something you sometimes see," Canales said. "It is not really a setback. I think it would be a setback if we can't fine tune it to get a better response."
The city moved and renovated a former doctor's building on the airport campus to act as the new terminal and administrative building. The facility was renovated to house a restaurant overlooking the runway.
Canales reported at an Airport Commission meeting in January that he was not confident any responses would come in and although there was a lot of interest in the space before the RFP was released, virtually no one attended the pre-bid site visit.
The only response is currently under technical review and if it meets all the city standards it will go before the Airport Commission.
"If they don't like what they propose to do with the site, they don't have to go ahead with it," he said of the commissioners. "They still have complete control even if they relax the restrictions."
Last year, the commission only set one requirement on a potential restaurant: It must be open at least five days a week.
Canales indicated that the hours the commission set may have discouraged those interested.
He said this would not be a big deal to change if the commission were so inclined and re-release the RFP.
"You start with a vision of what you want but you realize that we aren't the ones who are going to invest in it," he said. "Maybe you let them come up with a proposal."
He added that the second time is often the charm.
"We see this is a lot where the first RFP goes out and you get a limited response and then the second one goes out," he said. "Johnson School was successful the second time around ... we have had that with other buildings."
The ongoing terminal project is essentially complete and the contractor is currently seeing out a punch list.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.
More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.
Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."
Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.
Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.
One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly.
click for more
This spring weekend, there are a variety of events in and around the Berkshires, including Spring Celebrations, music, cleanups, and more.
click for more
More than 300 students from area high schools entered their work in 12th annual Teen Invitational at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. click for more
Backed by a $750,000 federal grant for a planning study, North Adams and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art are looking to undo some of that damage.
click for more
"It wasn't 100 percent consistent but I was afforded the opportunity to get to know other people with different religion, beliefs, backgrounds and culture and to be able to embrace that." click for more