NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The owners of the Tourists resort are planning a $17 million expansion of the facility into the Blackinton Mill that's estimated to add at least 25 new full-time job. 

 

According to a communication from Mayor Jennifer Macksey, representatives from the resort will give an overview of their plans at Tuesday's City Council meeting in advance of the mayor requesting a tax increment financing agreement for the project at the last meeting in August. 

 

Also on hand will be Paul St. Pierre, regional director of the Western Massachusetts Office of Business Development, who will do a "brief educational presentation" on TIFs. 

 

Tourists lead developer Benjamin Svenson revealed plans nearly a decade ago to include the nearly 100-year-old textile mill into the resort's eventual expansion as a "rural park."

 

The Beyond Place LLC purchased the Redwood Motel on State Road in 2015 with the intention of rebuilding the deteriorating motor court into a boutique motel along what is being called the "Cultural Corridor" between North Adams and Williamstown. That modest proposal grew by leaps and bounds to comprise some 18 properties on 30 acres on both sides of the Hoosic River — including the Blackinton Mill and former wastewater treatment plant property — with an expanded motor court, lounge, suspension bridge and trails by the time the hotel opened in 2018.

 

The woolen mill in various forms had operated from 1822 to its closing in 1950. Later owners tried to resurrect the 1917 brick structure as residential, including Meehan & Co. and Lawrence and Marc Magid of New York City, who purchased it right after the economic collapse. The building has been used for a number of commercial activities. 

 

The cleared area in front of the mill on Ashton Avenue is owned by the city and is the site of the former Widen Tannery. An easement was signed with the current owners some years ago for use of the site for parking. 

 

Macksey, in her letter to the council, said the resort owners anticipate more than 15,000 staying overnight in the city and that the development will result in "eliminating the existing unsightliness of the area."

 

The proposed agreement is being drafted with the city solicitor and will be reviewed by the state's Office of Business Development. The mayor anticipated that with council approval, the agreement could be voted at the state's Economic Assistance Coordinating Council's September meeting.