Pittsfield to See 'Brand New' Walmart
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city will have a "brand new" Walmart store, representatives say.
The company has recently been before several Pittsfield boards and commissions in advance of a planned renovation and expansion. Last week, the Zoning Board of Appeals OK'd a sign exemption for new 145-square-foot signage.
The ZBA also signed off on directory signage for store departments. The changes aim to increase visibility and better direct customers.
"This store is going to get a complete remodel inside, and when the remodel is done, it's basically all new finishes inside. It will be basically almost a brand new store when it's done," architect Perry Petrillo said.
"As part of that, Walmart's going through a whole process now where they're rebranding stores."
He explained that as part of the branding, the sign above the store's vestibule will be centered on the building. The building is more than 1,200 feet from Dalton Avenue.
Petrillo noted that Berkshire Crossing's mature trees are beautiful but sometimes create "peek-a-boo" effect.
"The secondary signage, or the directional signage, basically, is just kind of giving the building a little bit more recognition. The signs are significantly smaller than what we would typically go to, but we're trying to work with the ordinance and stay under the 12 square feet for each piece of it," he said.
"And I think what we're showing is somewhat consistent with what the market has currently, and they have those multiple directional signs on the building."
The prior day, the Community Development Board granted Walmart's request to amend its site plan by converting about 1,500 square feet of the Pittsfield garden center, which is planned to be enclosed for an online ordering pickup center.
This is a part of nationwide store improvements.
"The one thing that will be directed a little differently, that will be new, is the pickup and the direction of pickup, and I think that's key in tying in with the grocery sign, because that's what pickup is for," Petrillo said, adding that the auto center has very little signage.
Board members recognized that Walmart has changed over the years, noting the addition of grocery items.
"It's not like stores that are new build, where they can actually address 'This is the grocery side of the store. This is where other things are,' because there are not two entrances like other places," board member Esther Anderson observed.
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