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Mill Town has purchased nearly five acres of Site 9 in the William Stanley Business Park.

Mill Town Closes on Site 9, Woodlawn Ave. Property

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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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. 

Coakley reported that there is also a "pretty interested" buyer, a pharmaceutical research and development company, for a couple of acres on Site 9.   



In May, PEDA got an update from Jennings Real Estate Services Inc., which is marketing the park. The firm said the overall development environment is challenging everywhere because of high construction and labor costs, and smaller businesses see the cost of development and their ability to continue, while some big corporations have no tolerance for anything perceived as a brownfield.
 
The state Department of Environmental Protection had approved an amended grant of easement and restriction for environmental conditions, allowing for restaurants and retailers on the site.  

PEDA received a $500,000 grant from MassDevelopment to begin planning for the same process on Site 7 and Site 8.

"The real question over there is, can we build on top of that current foundation there?" Coakley said, explaining that they originally thought they would be able to build on the Site 9 foundation, but that turned out to be untrue. 

"… We're hoping that it's going to be OK for Site 8, and that had a five-story building on there, so we'll see." 

Linda Tyer, PEDA member and former mayor, said that in her opinion, what has held the redevelopment of this park back is the condition of the different sites. In 2021, under her leadership, Pittsfield received $880,000 in Site Readiness Program funding from the state's Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for Site 9. 

"They were not ready for any kind of redevelopment, and this kind of early work is essential in positioning us for future grants for renovation, reconstruction, demolition, whatever is needed," Tyer said. 

"And so I'm really glad that these steps are happening now. Probably should have happened 10 years ago, but here we are." 


Tags: business park,   General Electric,   mill town,   PEDA,   

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Companion Corner: Moose at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a chill Labrador retriever mix at the Berkshire Humane Society that's looking a home where he can take long walks and can cuddle afterward.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. 

Moose is a 5-year-old Lab mix and has been at the shelter for about three weeks. Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox.  

"He just wants to soak up all the attention, all the pets, all of the love that you have to give. He is just a big mush. Very social, buddy," she said.

He had to come to the shelter after his home situation had to change.

"The young woman who brought him in had him since he was a puppy, and unfortunately, her housing changed, so she was not able to keep him with her anymore," Olivieri said.

Moose is a happy boy who likes moderate exercise. While he does not play with toys aggressively, he loves to nibble on them, but prefers to just hang out with his person.

"He loves to go on walks. He likes to hang out with other dogs. He's pretty chill. He's social. He's not super playful, but he does like the company of other dogs, who are also calm like he is," she said. "But mainly, his favorite thing is just being with people. He wants someone to cuddle with at night, cuddle with on the couch. He's just going to be right by your side, glued to you all the time."

Moose can go home with children ages 10 and older and to one with another chill dog. It is preferred he is in a home and not an apartment as he can be a bit vocal when he is alone.

"He could live with another dog, but no small animals, no cats. And a home where someone is home with him a bit would be really good for him, so that he could spend a lot of time with people," Olivieri said. 

Moose is on a special diet for his skin as he has some itchiness caused by allergies.

"He does have what appears to be some kind of skin allergy. He is on medication for that right now as well, and we've been giving him medicated baths. And his hair and coat are growing in nicely, but he did have some patches where there's some hair loss and some definitely some itchiness and irritation in his ears," she said. "But we've given him some ear treatments, and he is on medication right now to help clear that up, and it is looking pretty good."

While Moose can be shy at first but warms up pretty fast once he meets you.

"At first, it does take him not too long, but just a little bit to get used to new people. If he is a little bit uncomfortable with someone, he will bark a little bit, but really, it's just him being a little bit uncertain, and that's kind of how he lets his feelings out. But if you take your time with him and take your time getting to know him, it does not take him long at all to warm right up," she said.

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