Pittsfield Announces North Street Re-design Open House

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield invites residents, business owners, and community members to attend the North Street re-design open house on Wednesday, April 9, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Onota Building located at 74 North Street (first floor).
 
This initiative aims to transform North Street into a street that ensures safe, comfortable access for all modes of travel and creates space for community interaction, culture, and commerce. This open house will be an opportunity for community members to help shape the future of the downtown.
 
At the Open House, attendees will:
  • Learn about the vision, goals, and planning timeline for the project
  • Review previous and ongoing improvements
  • Provide input on how North Street can better serve all users
  • Explore design alternatives and placemaking ideas
 
This open house is intended to be a drop in opportunity with interactive planning activities. No formal presentation will be provided. The current Planning Study phase runs through June 2025, followed by design and with construction slated for in summer 2026.
 
For more information, contact Commissioner Morales at rmorales@cityofpittsfield.org or by calling 413-499-9330.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories