PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The City Council approved Tuesday the allocation of $100,000 from the fiscal 2022 Community Preservation Act Fund to go toward the redevelopment of the Tyler Street fire station.

 

The funds will kickstart CT Management's redevelopment of the historic fire station into four residential housing units.

 

However, the vote was not a clear go-ahead from the entire council with members Kevin Morandi, Chris Connell, and Anthony Maffuccio voting against the funding with questions surrounding the request for proposals process.

 

"This process feels like the rules have been changed a few times," Morandi said. "... I have no problems with CT Management. I just don't like how we got here. We had a credible developer last year who was willing to do the work ... but we kept changing the rules."

 

The fire station has been out of use since 1970 and was used mainly for storage until being shut down in 2008. Since then, no improvements have been made to the building.

 

Multiple RFPs have been issued for the station that has fallen into disrepair. The city had considered demolishing the building because of this lack of interest. 

 

CT Management's proposal for market-rate housing came in 2021. It has received support from the Historical Commission and the Community Preservation Act Committee. 

 

David Carver, of CT Management, had indicated that the CPA money would go toward patching up the roof. There was some urgency to his application because there was a fear the roof would not last another winter.

 

But it was the 2020 RFP that drew questioning from some of the councilors and Morandi alleged that the 2020 single bidder was asked for a $5,000 deposit before the city would consider negotiations. He also alleged that they were asked to provide a $100,000 bond. He insinuated that different RFPs were released.

 

Community Development Director Deanna Ruffer said the RFP released in 2021 was exactly the same as the one released in 2020. She said the $5,000 bid deposit was a requirement of the RFP. As was the performance security bond. She said even though the former bidder did not meet the RFP requirements, the city still agreed to enter negotiations with them.

 

"It did not meet the minimum requirements ... but the building was quickly deteriorating so I asked that we enter into negotiations," she said. "We never got to the table with him. He withdrew on his own volition prior to the execution of a purchase-and-sale agreement."

 

Although not mentioned by name, Rusty Anchor owner Scott Graves had indicated in the past that he was interested in the project. Both Connell and Morandi said they were impressed by the bidder's work on the former YMCA boathouse on Pontoosuc Lake, the now Rusty Anchor.    

 

Ruffer said CT Management did provide the proper bonding and agreed to a performance security bond. The company also outlined a timeline and project cost estimates. She said the former bidder did not do this.

 

"We put it out one more time and we got a bonafide bid meeting all of the requirements," she said. "Again, this was the same RFP."

 

She added that the former bidder had the chance to rebid in 2021 but they did not.

 

Morandi still felt the city made adjustments for CT Management and that more efforts should have been made to work with the former bidder a year earlier.

 

"We could have had the project taken care of over a year ago," he said. "So I don't like this, put this to the 12th hour now and say we have to slam this through because we have to get this building buttoned up."

 

Connell agreed with Morandi but was happy the project was moving forward and the building would be saved.

 

"I have been after that building for years, and the good thing is that the building will be saved," he said. "... Although the building will be saved I don't necessarily approve of how we got here."

 

Dina Guiel Lampiasi asked if the council could look at the two RFPs. She felt the document would clear up a lot of the three councilors' concerns and answer their allegations.  

 

"I think it is important that we deal with facts, and the assertion has been made twice that the RFPs were not the same," she said. "I think it is important to be clear."

 

Ruffer said this information could be provided to the council.

 

The City Council also looked at a 10-year Tax Increment Exemption agreement for CT Management for the redevelopment of the building.

 

This was referred to the Community Development Committee for review.

 

The proposed structure for the TIE provides for 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental

increase in assessed value, and thus property taxes, for the first two years while the redevelopment is in progress; 80 percent for the third and fourth years, 60 percent in years five and six, 40 percent in years seven and eight, and 20 percent in years nine and 10.

 

The estimated value of the proposed TIE is approximately $54,734. Over the 10-year

term of the agreement, it is estimated CT Management will pay $65,142 in property taxes.

 

CT Management's entire investment into the property is estimated to be $1,250,000.