Williamstown's Water Street spiffed up and styling

By Linda CarmanPrint Story | Email Story
While town officials ponder the fate of two anchors on Water Street — the former Carol Cable and former town garage — local business people and real estate investors have given the street a facelift and a bright new wardrobe. And even without the benefit of large-scale developments at those two sizable question marks, Water Street is remaking itself as a shopping street with some pizzazz. “I certainly think so,” said Jay Merselis, co-owner of The Mountain Goat, the outdoor clothing and gear shop which has been a retail magnet on Water Street for many years. “I think it’s great. The appearance is really nice. “Spring Street is nice, certainly, but Water Street is more eclectic. At one point The Mountain Goat was the only wild color [a dark teal] but now it looks tame. “When you put together the buildings Mike Patten has renovated, and Toonerville Trolley and Plum Gallery, the whole street is really attractive.” “There’s more foot traffic, increasingly more use of the river and Linear Park,” he said. “It’s a great place to be.” “Maureen O’Mara has relocated her insurance business here, [near the corner of Latham Street],” he said. “There are a lot of stable businesses making the street thrive.” Most dazzling, without a doubt, is the Painted Lady Victorian, now brightened with a sizzling tangerine paint job, that houses Toonerville Trolley. Toonerville owner Hal March, who rents space from the new owners Richard Miller and Katie Ziglar, is delighted. “I certainly love what Dick and Katie have done for this building,” said March, who has operated his first record and tape and now CD shop there for about 26 years. “I love the color scheme, bright orange. It makes my day when I come in to work,” said March. “The new gallery, too, [Plum Gallery, across the street] always has interesting stuff. It’s a neat old building, and a good use, the perfect thing for it to be used for,” he said. “It’s an attractive street,” said March. “It’s had its ups and downs, certainly, and now there are a few new things going on, and that looks good.” ”And this is certainly the most eyecatching building on the block, if not the town, if not the county.” The building is managed for Miller and Ziglar by Alton & Westall, a longtime Williamstown real estate brokerage which has had its offices at 77 Water St. since 1986. The classic frame building, painted a soft sage green, is owned by James Montepare. Real estate broker Donald Westall said “Toonerville is striking, it gives a lift to the street.” “Katy and her husband did quite a bit of research on the history of Victorian Painted Ladies. [The house] is striking, and it certainly helps to get other people in the mood. Nick Whitman [at Plum Gallery] and Mike Patten [of Redstone Group] have renovated buildings on the street. “It’s due, maybe we’re even overdue,” said Westall. “I don’t know if it’s the anticipation of the future of Water Street, or if it’s just contagious, sometimes when one building is fixed up, the one next door gets fixed up, too.” “Mike [Patten] renovated the building next to Meacham Street, then bought the next two from Jack Watson’s estate,” he said. In addition, Patten’s office confirmed that he has purchased the Waterworks building at 136 Water St. “The Mountain Goat looks great,” said Westall. “Now we need to get more local people shopping locally in the shops going up. It’d be nice to have critical mass, a lot of individual shops.” Joan Marks, manager of The Cottage at 24 Water St., said “There’s a lot going on that’s terrific.” Marks said the prospect of public parking as part of the development of the old town garage site would help bring potential customers. “Parking should help a lot,” said Marks. “Very many people don’t come around the block. That continues to be a concern of everyone over here. Tonwspeople always know where to find us, but not first time visitors.” Besides parking, the town garage site is expected to house a building of three or more stories, with retail shops on the first floor, offices on the second, and apartments on the higher floors. Maureen O’Mara has relocated her longtime business, Farm Family Insurance, from Main Street across from Plum Gallery. The building, and an adjacent building on Latham Street that houses therapists offices, are both painted a deep, rich teal. “It feels like a neighborhood,” said O’Mara. “It’s an area where people are trying to show pride in their buildings.” The street’s restaurants — Hot Tomatoes pizza, Hobson’s Choice, Water Street Grill and Mezze — draw diners to Water Street. The new Mezze has relocated to the top of the street, 16 Water St., in part of what was once the Phillips Hardware building after Mezze’s old quarters burned in August, 2000. John England, who owns Hot Tomatoes at 100 Water St., is planning to purchase the former Mezze building from his mother, Adelaide, this spring and renovate it. Adelaide England owns The Potter’s Wheel at 96 Water St., a shop which she expects to reopen in June. Near the Alton & Westall building, the accounting firm of Umlauf & Dunn is located in a much-admired vintage 18th century building on the corner of Latham Street. Reached by telephone in Washington, D.C., Miller, who owns the Toonerville Trolley building at 131 Water St. with his wife, Katie Ziglar, said “we had not really thought about purchasing commercial property, but we liked the aesthetic of it, the shape, the way it looked. We looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s try it,’ and we did.” “We loved the history of it, it got us all fired up. We learned that the original owner was in the ice business, and also sold guns and tobacco. When he accidentally shot himself 500 people came to the funeral. Where Hal’s CD store is now has always been a store,” said Miller. “My wife, Katie, bought seven or eight books about Painted Ladies, books on the historical colors of the period, and looked at combinations with graphic designer Diane Guitardi. “We took the advice in one of the books which was to do something that makes you happy, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we spruce it up a little bit and make it happy?’” “It’s a pleasure coming in there,” he said. “We wanted to improve the property and make a contribution to Williamstown. We want it to be there for posterity. We hope it is appealing to people. “We looked at the town’s economic structure, which makes it a place where we could manage the risk. With a great college, there’s a need for a mixture of commercial and rental units. “We did consider those things economically,” said Miller. “But at the core, we wouldn’t have done it if we didn’t love the building.”
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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

 

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.)  The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.  

 

 

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

 

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few.  All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

 

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house.  New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house.  New paver patio in the back yard.

 

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

 

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

 

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

 

 

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

 

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

 

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

 

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

 

What do the current owners love about this home?

 

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

 

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

 

 

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

 

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.  

 

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

 

 

 

 

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