Former GE Site Garners Over $6M for Redevelopment

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The William Stanley Business Park is closer to fulfilling the $10 million needed to redevelop its biggest parcel, Site 9. 

"It took a while to get up to $10.8 million but I think we are very close," Business Development Manager Michael Coakley told the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority on Thursday.

"We have currently solidified $6.3 million." 

This includes $3 million from the MassWorks infrastructure program, $880,000 in Site Readiness Program funding from the state's Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, $264,000 from the state Brownfields Program and, most recently, a $500,000 earmark from a state economic development bill that was passed in November. 

The 16-acre parcel previously housed a General Electric factory and is the largest and most prominent section of the business park. Mayor Linda Tyer has said it resembles the "surface of the moon" because of deterioration over the past 20 years. 

During the meeting, PEDA authorized using the balance of its GE landscaping fund — about $1.3 million — for the landscaping portion of the redevelopment plan and expending $400,000 from its foundation fund for the site. 

This leaves a balance of about $4.5 million in grants. 

As a part of the recent economic development bill, the Berkshire Innovation Center located within the business park received $150,000 for the Tech Impact Collaborative's digital economy initiatives. 

Coakley pointed out that Site 9 is the largest project within the business park and it took a lot of work to get the funding, though the efforts are not over. 

He reported that a warehouse/distribution firm has been asking for several documents on the large site. 

The company could bring 100 jobs to the area and is looking for possibly a 70,000-square-foot building. 

It was said a commitment to the parcel could be helpful to move along with its redevelopment. 

Coakley has been in contact with a possible tenant for Site 5 for a couple of years. The company is looking into the feasibility of building a 30,000-square-foot building with another 20,000 square feet on another level to lease. 

A pre-fab building components manager based out of Europe, an industrial digital manufacturer, energy storage companies, and a production company have also shown interest in the park. 

"There’s a number of kind of irons in the fire," Coakley said. "Some are hotter than others." 

Pittsfield Affordable Housing Initiatives Shine Light, Hope

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:08AM / Saturday, December 20, 2025

Housing Secretary Edward Augustus cuts the ribbon at The First on Thursday with housing officials and Mayor Peter Marchetti, state Sen. Paul Mark and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.