Berkshire Organizations Share in Findings From Western Mass Housing Study

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Hearthway, and Upside413 are partnering with Way Finders and their research partner, the UMass Donahue Institute, to share in-depth findings from "Building Homes. Building Futures."

This first-ever housing study will cover Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties at an event on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Berkshire Community College's Boland Theater.

According to the study, Berkshire County needs nearly 2,000 new housing units to meet current demand. Even with projected declines in population locally, the gap will still be nearly 1,000 units by 2035. Even more may be needed to stem population loss. The report, along with its online interactive data dashboards, provides western Massachusetts communities with information to address this crisis.

Event details:

5:00 p.m.        Check-in

5:30 p.m.        Welcome and Introductions by Tom Matusko

5:40 p.m.        Presentation by Michael McNally, Senior Research Analyst at UMass Donahue Institute

6:20 p.m.        Q&A period followed by strategy development

7:00 p.m.        Closing


Tags: BRPC,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Man Facing Drug, Assault Charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was taken into custody on Tuesday evening after allegedly threatening others in his North Street apartment. 
 
Ixander Pereira, 22, was arrested after police say they discovered bags of material "consistent" with heroin on his person. 
 
Pereira was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm) and possession of a class A substance (heroin) and is expected to be arraigned in Pittsfield District Court today. No firearm was recovered.
 
Police responded a call about an "unwanted subject" in the 500 block of North Street at approximately 6:34 p.m.
 
The responding officers were told that someone had been threatened by a man with a firearm, and that there were multiple people, including the potential suspect, within a particular apartment.
 
Because of the information regarding the presence of a firearm and the number of people inside the residence, additional officers, including members of the anti-crime unit, also responded.
 
Officers were allowed into the apartment, and Pereira was taken into custody without incident.
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories