NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — When the property across the street went up for sale, it was an opportunity that Northern Berkshire EMS couldn't pass up.

 

"I think it was 5 o'clock on Monday we find out it was for sale. By 5 o'clock on a Tuesday, we were here and we made an offer," said the service's President Paul Ethier. "We weren't actively searching for property. But we could not turn this one down."

 

The service closed on Don's Service Center for $334,900 on Thursday and held an open house for employees on Friday. 

 

The more than 6,000 square feet sheet metal structure was built in 1975. Donald Pierce closed his doors last month after 30 years in the automotive business. In a Facebook post on March 17, he announced his retirement and thanked his customers.

 

The ambulance service headquartered at the corner of River and Harris Streets has been feeling the pinch when it comes to room. An addition was put on the building more than a decade but there's no more space to expand and the parking lot is packed in two or three vehicles deep.

 

Chief and general manager John Meaney Jr. said Pierce had been a good neighbor, allowing overflow parking on his property when the ambulance needed it.  

 

"We've outgrown our space on Harris street. So this was a pretty good deal for us to have it right across the street and it solves our parking issue," he said. "It also solves storage issues for us right now. We're renting storage space off site for medical equipment and items of that nature. 

 

"So this will solve that problem and it will also allow us to at some point, bring our our maintenance in house. So that's the current plan."

 

Pierce included a lot of equipment and parts and is still taking  a few more items out. Meaney said they've cleared out some stuff already but there is equipment — like the hoist — that's staying.

 

He said it's been harder to find places to service the ambulances and maintain the interiors. Now that it has a garage, it's looking for a fleet mechanic, especially one with diesel experience. 

 

The structure is in good condition, said Ethier. The roof is insulated and has a new membrane and the heating system is fairly new. 

 

There are several offices, a bathroom and a breakroom but other than use as a maintenance garage, storage and parking, there are no concrete plans for the building. 

 

"This gives us a lot of opportunity for future growth and to just be available for us," said Meaney. 

 

The service started as North Adams Ambulance with one ambulance operating out of the fire station; its now grown to include the former Village Ambulance and a transportation service, and an expanded area of operation. Meaney said the service is awaiting six new ambulances over the next few years to replace vehicles that are hitting the 200,000 on their odometers. 

 

A couple dozen employees had stopped by to check out the building during the afternoon open house. 

 

"We had always had our eyes out for property, but we've just, you know, there isn't much property, like this type of property," said Ethier. "And then when it opened up right across the street it was like, well, this was a no-brainer."