CT Management Plans to Convert Tyler Street Fire House into Apartments

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Tyler Street Fire Station was at risk for demolition before a local developer saw it as a potential apartment building.

The Historical Commission on Monday deemed the fire station historically significant, making it eligible for Community Preservation Act funding that will support its proposed restoration.

Developer David Carver and CT Management — who built the Morningstar Apartments in the former St. Mary's Church down the street — want to convert the station into four residential units.

Carver has worked to preserve as much of the interior and exterior detail of original properties as possible while meeting functional requirements and building permits. He has done a number of historically significant properties that have undergone renovation for new uses.

"A year ago I would have likely told you that there's probably going to be an application to demolish the fire station but for a number of reasons, one more attempt was made so the [request for proposals] was issued, I think it was more toward the beginning of winter, and there was a successful bidder," City Planner CJ Hoss said to the panel.

"I think there's still some work to do on a potential transaction but Dave Carver and CT Management put in a proposal, they will buy the fire station and converted to four residential units, and right now, CT Management is working on lining up the financing to actually pull the project together."

This project was requested to be submitted to the Community Preservation Committee as an emergency rather than being included in the next funding cycle. Following Monday's determination, Hoss will set up a meeting with the committee to see if it will consider this application out of cycle and, if so, how they wish to proceed.

The fire station is a Joseph McArthur Vance building constructed in the early 1900s. Vance was a prominent architect in Pittsfield who designed residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational buildings.

The fire station has been out of use since 1970 and was used mainly for storage until being shutdown in 2008. There have been several ideas floated for the building, including as a new home for Berkshire Families & Children some years ago, but the condition of the building has been a deterrent to interested buyers.

In the last decade, CT Management has converted churches into the Power House Lofts on Seymour Street and the Notre Dame Residences on Melville Street. It has also converted a church in North Adams and another in Williamstown into housing.

Members of the commission were relieved to hear that the structure is set to be saved.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.