NORTH ADAMS - The developer of the defunct North Adams Plaza is expected to appear before the City Council in two weeks with plans that will include the construction of a Lowe's Home Improvement store.
Lowe's has long been rumored to be the anchor store for a shopping center on Curran Highway. Its name was first raised when Nigro Development LLC of Albany, N.Y., took out an option on the city's former gravel bank nearly two years ago. But that deal never closed. Now the big-box retailer is slated for the plaza shopping center, owned by Starwood Ceruzzi Co. of Fairfield, Conn.
"It does look like it's going to happen this time around," Mayor John Barrett III told the council on Tuesday night. He said the site has been OKed by the home improvement company's real estate committee, but cautioned the plans were still preliminary.
Representatives for Starwood Ceruzzi were scheduled to appear at the council meeting with a plan to reconfigure South State Street, which runs behind the plaza south to Adams. Barrett said some discrepancies were found in the documents, causing the developer to postpone the presentation.
South State Street was left to the city when county government folded some years ago. The city will not maintain the road, said Barrett, but because it is the city's, any changes must be approved by the Planning Board, then by the council.
"It is important that this road be maintained because the Petricca family does own the land in the back and will hopefully want to develop it someday," said the mayor.
The plaza, empty since last summer, is expected to be demolished. The footprint of the new building or buildings means the road will have to be moved back toward the Petricca property. The developer will have to reconstruct and maintain the road.
The new shopping plaza will have to go through the permitting process, including the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office. Developers asked the city Conservation Commission to delineate wetlands on the property several weeks ago. If the permitting process goes smoothly, the mayor estimated completion in about 18 months.
The deal to put a Lowe's on the former gravel pit site last summer fell through when the Adams Selectmen raised concerns about the possible effects on the town's sewer system, which serves that end of the city.
Those worries have been eased by discussions with the mayor and Starwood Ceruzzi over the past few months. "There's been a good working relationship between the two communities about what's going on," said Barrett.
"The mayor has the support of the Adams Selectmen," Chairman Joseph R. Dean Jr. told the North Adams Transcript on Monday. "I don't think there'll be any opposition. Last time, I think there was a lot of misunderstandings and things taken out of context. We just wanted some information — we weren't really opposed to it. ..."
The building will be about 130,000 square feet and will likely employ about 100 people. A bank and drive-through is also on the plans.
Starwood Ceruzzi bought the plaza for $2.5 million in 2004. That firm and Nigro joined forces, with Nigro as the silent partner, to develop both the plaza and the gravel pit. Nigro's option to purchase the city property for $700,000 expires in September, the latest of several extensions.
Barrett said he informed the development group that it should purchase the property, or expect to pay a significant amount of money to continue the option.
"I think they've got to fish or cut bait here as to what's going to happen," said the mayor.
Tammy Daniels can be reached at tdaniels@iberkshires.com
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I really think it's too bad that Lowe's is coming - what is going to happen to the small town hardware stores that have been around forever? What about those employees???
They will have to go to work for Lowes and everyone in town will save money and be more likely to improve their properties which in turn will make the city a nicer place.
If you buy nothing but the promotional specials, anybody with a calculator or a pad and pencil can figure that they might save. BUT if you really need something they don't have. you will pay 20-40% MORE than you would at the local shops and hardware stores.
Also, don't expect to see the same faces there next time you go in. They don't have long-time employees.
The good, local small stores will stay through this, since they are part of what this town is.
I am so glad...ever try to get any service at Greenbergs if you aren't a big contractor? Finally, a big company that might help the true little guy. Maybe the smaller stores will actually have to help customers...theres a concept!
Are you joking? Greenberg's is nothing if not customer-focused. I have gotten great advice from the truly knowledgable staff at Greenbergs on numerous occassions and I am just a do-it-yourselfer. I will continue to shop at G-bergs.
Glad to see something worthwhile back in the neighborhood, maybe there would be enough room for another supermarket since BIG Y is the only one in Adams- I sure the hope so! So we will have a choice for a change. Good luck! Look forward to seeing some made out of that dump!
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region.
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways.
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school project designer, said the conductivity of the soils were comparable or better than three recent school completed in Connecticut.
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The School Committee earlier this month approved upping the pay scale by $35 to $55 a day and creating a new base of $130 for substitutes with fewer credentials.
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