Letter: Accessing Benefits From Recent Climate Legislation

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To the Editor:

The Berkshire chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby and its partners are hosting a free public forum on the evening of Monday, April 3, that will highlight recently passed climate legislation and the opportunities available to local governments and their constituents.

The Berkshire chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby and its partners are hosting a free public forum on the evening of Monday, April 3, 2023, at the Berkshire Innovation Center, at 45 Woodlawn Ave. in Pittsfield. The event is open to the community, and the reception with appetizers will begin at 5:30 p.m., and panelists will begin at 6:15 p.m.

The panelists are Massachusetts state Sen. Paul Mark, former Undersecretary of Energy and Climate Solutions Judy Chang, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance Larry Chretien, and Congressman Richard Neal with a brief message.

The forum, sponsored by The Berkshire Eagle, Berkshire Innovation Center, Ener-g-Save, and Citizen's Climate Lobby, will highlight recently passed climate legislation and the opportunities available to local governments and their constituents. The panelists will explain the benefits of these new laws including job creation, access to immediate rebates, generous tax credits, and more, and will appeal to businesses and individuals alike. The event will be live-streamed on Pittsfield Community Television. Moderated questions from the audience will be posed to the panel.

"I am excited to join local leaders, community members, and climate activists to discuss state and federal legislation recently signed into law and how these new policies can benefit us in the Berkshires," declared Senator Paul Mark. "Climate change is one of the most important issues we face as a state and as a nation and how we respond to this challenge and work to proactively mitigate the negative consequences is going to impact all of us in a tangible way for years to come."

Uli Nagel of Lee, liaison to Congressman Richard Neal's office, shared her concern, "Lack of snow cover in the winter is hurting our local ski resorts, and the drought-like conditions in the summer are difficult for local farmers. Events like these help educate our community; these new laws can help to slow that trend."

Christine Kelly
Sheffield, Mass. 

 

 

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Pittsfield Council OKs Tax Incentive, Historic District Study Committee

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council has approved a tax agreement to transform a historical downtown property into housing, and an effort to designate a local historical district in that area. 

Last week, the council OKed a tax increment exemption agreement for Allegrone Company's redevelopment of 24 North Street, the former Berkshire County Savings Bank, and 30-34 North Street into mixed-income housing. Councilors also approved a study committee to consider a Local Historical District in the downtown. 

The subcommittee on Community and Economic Development unanimously recommended the TIE earlier this month. 

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The total estimated capital investment for both sets of apartments is $15.5 million. 

The 10-year tax increment exemption freezes the current value of the property, base value, and phases in the increased property taxes that result from the redevelopment. The increased property taxes will be phased in over 10 years, with 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental increase in residential property taxes in the first year, decreasing by 10 percent each subsequent year over the term.

Last month, Gov. Maura Healey visited the site and announced housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online, including units in Pittsfield and at the historic site. 

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that the TIE triggers Allegrone's ability to receive state tax incentives and grants, recalling that they could see as much as $3 million. 

"We have a vacant bank building that's completely empty and everything, and we're going to be able to put something in it, and part of this project does have commercial, but it's a lot of apartments too," he said. 

"So I mean, it's a lot of advantage to the city of Pittsfield." 

Ward 7 Councilor Katherine Moody said the $15 million invested in the downtown will pay dividends to the housing crisis, and in her five years of working at General Dynamics, she saw young engineers moving to the area struggle to find a place to rent or buy.  Moody had many questions about the proposal, as her constituents did, but felt they were answered. 

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