Mill Town Seeking TIF for Bousquet Sport
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mill Town Capital is requesting a 10-year tax increment financing agreement for the redevelopment of the former Berkshire West into Bousquet Sport.
On Tuesday, the City Council will be presented with a TIF that is expected to save the investment firm about $215,000 in real estate taxes over a decade, starting at 100 percent in fiscal 2025 and decreasing to 10 percent by fiscal 2034.
Over this time, the facility is expected to pay about $2.8 million in taxes.
"Bousquet Sport, located at 100 Dan Fox Drive in Pittsfield, will feature a multi-purpose sports facility that will include six pickleball courts, new locker rooms, cardio and fitness equipment," Mayor Linda Tyer wrote in an order.
"The facility will be fully renovated to be building, fire and ADA code compliance. Mill Town Capital is investing $19,000,000 in improvements to the property and projecting the need for three full-time employees with an additional 15 part-time employees."
In the last few years, Mill Town has redeveloped the historic Bousquet Ski mountain and the former Lakeside Christian Camp into Camp Arrow Wood.
The investment firm says the acquisition of Bousquet and Bousquet Sport, which are across the street from one another, would meet a growing future demand for outdoor recreation and wellness.
A new 15,000-square-foot addition will feature six pickleball courts, two golf simulators, a beverage center, a pro shop, office space, and a customer center.
The existing 45,000-square-foot facility will be upgraded with new locker rooms, new cardio and fitness equipment, and multiple renovations to bring it up to code.
The exterior of the building and its property will also be renovated.
"Mill Town Capital has projected a capital investment in Bousquet Sport of $15,000,000 in hard costs and $4,000,000 in soft costs for a total investment of $19,000,000. In FY24 real estate taxes for Bousquet Sport total $72,076.75. The projected real estate taxes are projected to average $99,809 per year over the next 10 years, even with the approval of the proposed Tax Increment Financing Agreement," a memorandum reads.
"Additional taxes will be collected for the two other properties Mill Town has acquired in. the vicinity. Mill Town Capital is projecting the need for three (3) full time employees for Bousquet, supplemented with 15 part-time employees."
A new, 15,000 square-foot ski lodge at Bousquet was constructed in place of the over 50-year building that was found to be out of code.
The mountain, which welcomed skiers back in late 2021, also underwent upgrades to its lift and snowmaking equipment.
The sports-centric Camp Arrow Wood opened last summer, offering a traditional camp, a leadership camp for older student-athletes, and an outdoor adventure camp.
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