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The New Kimbell Building, owned by David Carver for 20 years, has been sold to an out of town investor.

85 Main Street Bought by New York Man

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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Crews have been working on 306 Union St. intermittently since it was bought from the city at auction last year.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A significant downtown building changed hands on Wednesday, the third notable structure to be sold in the past week. 
 
The New Kimbell Building, better known as 85 Main St., was purchased by PKC Capital LLC for $1.65 million from 85 Main Street Nominee Trust.
 
David Carver bought the building in 2001 for $1.3 million from Gabriella and John Bond. The property is most recently assessed at $988,500 and contains and estimated 55 units. 
 
The block that encompasses 81 to 91 Main St. was built at the turn of the last century by two daughters of Jenks Kimbell, owner of the "old" Kimbell building that had been the city's first commercial livery.
 
It's been the home of notable businesses over the past century, including Apothecary Hall and McClelland's. It currently hosts a variety of accounting, investment and insurance firms, and offices. MountainOne Insurance and Investments has taken over much of the first floor.
 
The principal of PKC Capital LLC also purchased a different investment property last fall. 
 
Charalabos P. Bakalis of Glen Head, N.Y., picked up 306 Union St., a decrepit apartment building, for $50,000 at the city's fall 2020 auction of municipal-owned properties.
 
Operating as KCS Materials LLC, Bakalis applied for demolition and construction permits for an estimated $300,000 worth of work. The seven-unit building has so far been gutted, had new windows and doors installed and the exterior repaired and painted. Work has not been consistent, but people have been on the site for bursts of construction over the summer. 
 
That property had been one of nearly three dozen in North Berkshire owned by Richard Doherty early this century. Many of those were cited for health and safety violations and eventually went into foreclosure within a few years or were taken for back taxes.
 
Another major downtown building, the hotel, was purchased by NA Hotel LLC on Friday for $4.45 million. The structure is being called Hotel Downstreet and is expected to undergo a renovation in the coming months. 
 
And the third address, albeit smaller, is just as well known. 
 
The former Molly's Bakery at 27 Eagle St. was purchased by Catherine Cusack of Lakeville, Conn., on Monday for $292,500 from 27 Eagle Street LLC.
 
The building dates to the early 19th century and was home to Molly's for 71 years until the business's closure in 2008. Since then it's been home to craft and novelty stores. 
 
There are rumors of several other ownership changes afoot, including a potential purchaser for the vacant TD Bank on Main Street that closed last year. 

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

 

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