Public Meeting to Be Held on Demo of Historical Wendell Avenue Barn

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members will have a chance to weigh in on the proposed demolition of a barn owned by Berkshire Theatre Group in the next couple of months.

The Historical Commission this week voted to begin the 60-day process for a public hearing that will happen by the end of June.

Due to a misunderstanding of the process, the theater had lapsed on the 60-day public hearing window based on an August decision to deem it historically significant. Rather than making the organization restart its application, the panel on Tuesday decided to move forward with the public hearing process.

The carriage house is located behind the Thaddeus Clapp House on Wendell Avenue, which was built in 1871.

After BTG spent more than $1 million to restore the Clapp House, a professional assessment indicated that the best path forward for the barn is to take it down. In the future, the theater sees more artist housing in that space but there are no immediate plans for construction.

"We don't come here gleefully wanting to take this barn down," Executive Director Nick Paleologos said.

"If we saw any path to salvaging it, we would take it but the funds aren't there, the building, as you saw yourself and as [Bradley Architects] indicated, is really quite terrible shape."

Bradley Architects was hired to analyze the timber-frame barn and deemed it "beyond repair" due to a lack of a foundation, compromised structure, lack of utilities, water-damaged interior, and weather-destroyed exterior.

A letter from the architects says the structure's sill plate is rotted out along almost the entire perimeter, that there are several holes in the roof causing water damage, that the asphalt roofing is beyond service, that windows are damaged or missing, and that the building's utilities are destroyed from neglect.

Even if BTG could secure a stamp of approval for a refurbishment, he explained that securing funding has been a heavy lift now more than ever.

"Partially because, and I'm sure you've probably noticed this, but for the first time in seven decades, one of our competitors the Williamstown Theatre Festival has just decided not to produce a season this year and the ripple effect across the culturals has been dramatic, including ourselves," Paleologos said.

"We would be letting the public know a little bit broader and wider and maybe, working with other people who we know and working with Berkshire Theatre Group to see what else might be out there."

Ann-Marie Harris said the panel owes it to the public to get the word out and hear opinions.

"It's just that it's such a beautiful building and it's so historic that it's sad to think it no longer has a function or a meaning," Carol Nichols said.

In other news, the commission approved a demolition delay for a vacant deteriorated house and garage at 54 Mervyn St. and a demolition delay for an old single-family structure behind a main house on 1480 West St.

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.