PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The first purchase of land at Site 9 in the William Stanley Business Park has gone through. 

Mill Town Capital has closed on 4.7 acres on the overhauled GE site once described as looking like the face of the moon, as well as some land across the street for a residential building. The purchase price is $200,000. 

"This is an exciting moment because Mill Town was at the table at the very, very beginning of the grant process for the cracking and crushing and greening of Site 9. They've stood by us every step of the way," board Chair Jonathan Denmark said to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority last week. 

"It's also a monumental occasion, because after 25-something years, this is the first land sale from the William Stanley Business Park, and we're all excited." 

Mill Town in 2024 announced its intent to purchase acreage on Site 9 and land across the street at 100 Woodlawn Ave.  

The 16-acre parcel at the corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Tyler Street Extension previously housed a General Electric factory and is the largest and most prominent section of the business park. Now, it is greened over with a loop of paved access road. 

There was some reference to recent hesitancy about the estimate of high construction costs, but the investment firm reportedly chose to proceed because of its faith in this location.  

Pittsfield's Business Development Manager Michael Coakley said Mill Town will need to make the numbers work and then find a tenant before breaking ground, and that it won't be right away. The closing had on the site had been the day prior.