Granddaughter Rebuilds Family Home Through Habitat For Humanity

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PITTSFIELD - Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity and the Berkshire chapter of the Western Massachusetts Homebuilders Association is inviting the public to a dedication ceremony Sept. 9 for a rehabilitated home on Jubilee Hill. The house will be sold to Courtney Hamilton, the granddaughter of longtime owners Shirley and Randolph Hamilton. The ceremony will begin at the Christian Center, 193 Robbins Ave., at 1 p.m. and tours of the house at 31 Division St. will follow. Shirley and Randolph Hamilton raised their seven children and numerous foster children at the house. According to one of those children, Cheryl Nolan-Wallah, the house sat vacant for a couple of years before the Hamilton children realized that none of them was in a position to take responsibility for the needed repairs. They remembered that their mother had spoken of giving the building to Habitat for Humanity, and made contact with the local affiliate, which accepted the property in about 2002. At about the same time, Courtney Hamilton had begun her required "sweat equity" hours as the head of a Habitat Partner Family. While she helped to renovate and build Habitat houses for other partner families, she began to wonder about the Division Street property, where she had often visited her grandparents and celebrated holidays as a child. She wrote a letter to the Habitat board, explaining the memories and family tradition associated with the house, and asking whether she could purchase that house when she finished her sweat equity requirements. The board, which had not been aware of the connection, soon replied that the house would be sold to her when it was completed. Hamilton grew up in her mother's home, but would often visit her father's parents. "I know growing up, I didn't always feel like a Hamilton," she said. "I went to family functions but I never felt as close as the other cousins. Having the Hamilton house, keeping it in the family, makes me feel more like a Hamilton. "My mother and I would go up to visit at least once a week when I was growing up," she continued. "I still see my grandfather sitting outside in his car. When I turn the corner, I still see my grandmother sitting in her dining room. My grandmother would read my mother's tea leaves. When I walk in the house, I still see the old floor plan; I still remember the way it was." The Division Street house is the 16th home built or rehabilitated by Habitat in Pittsfield since the local chapter began in 1993. Significant work on this property, including a new roof, was provided by the Berkshire Chapter of the Western Mass. Homebuilders Association. The interior of the home was gutted, and rebuilt according to a design by Ben Szalewicz, when he was associated with Blueline Design. (He now works at Centerline Architects in Bennington, VT.)
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Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant. 

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

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