Berkshire Kind Has Plans for Former Starbase Technologies

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Kind has changed the location of its proposed facility and plans to be fully operational in less than one year.

Originally to be built in the William Stanley Business Park, the cannabis company now plans to convert the former Starbase Technologies at the corner of Peck's and Valentine Roads into a cultivation and manufacturing facility.

"The development at the William Stanley Business Park turned out to be a little more complex and costly than we expected it to be and the opportunity with Peck's Road provided a good opportunity," Co-owner Jeremy Silverman explained at a public hearing on Thursday.

"The building is already there, we didn't have to worry about the [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] and [state Department of Environmental Protection] requirements, which became very cumbersome, and it's just an easier route to get to production and operation faster."

Developers on the former General Electric property have had to deal with the effects of past contamination.

The approximately 56,000-square-foot building on Peck's Road is set to contain a 6,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and a 25,000-square-foot cultivation facility with up to 10,000 square feet of canopy.

There will be envelope renovations to the roof and walls of the building as well as significant HVAC improvements for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation.

By the end of the year, the cannabis company plans to have its provisional license approved and begin construction on the facility, which is staged to be completed in May. Final cultivation and manufacturing licenses are planned to be received by June.

In July, the Community Development Board approved the company's application for the cultivation facility on Pecks Road and additional approval will be needed for the manufacturing.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.