PEDA Takes Steps Toward Silver Lake Walking Trail

By Joe DurwinSpecial to iBerkshires
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The governing board of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority approved on Wednesday a series of measures to potentiate the transfer of the shoreline property around Silver Lake to pave the way for a recreational walking trail.

In order to build the walking path, following environmental remediation of the lake by General Electric, the city must amend the existing Definite Economic Development Agreement that was forged in 1999 to correct an oversight in regards to the ownership of the property, PEDA Executive Director Corydon Thurston said at Wednesday's meeting. 

At the time of the original agreement, it was believed that the city owned the shoreline but it was later discovered that titles for these parcels still resided with the original property owners. The titles had not been transferred to the city when Silver Lake Boulevard was built through an easement nearly a century ago.

The board voted unanimously to make the amendment, which also requires a vote from the City Council. 

"The lake is already looking beautiful, and once the shoreline is remediated, it really will be a lovely recreational asset," said Thurston, who anticipated that both the general public and specifically future employees of businesses on the William Stanley Business Park adjacent to Silver Lake will enjoy the future walking path.

The board also voted unanimously in favor of motions to accept transfers the parcels of shoreline to PEDA.

Other PEDA News in Brief:


  • Waterstone Development, the firm behind a controversial new shopping center plan at the PEDA site, is expected to have its plans completed by late March for presentation to the city, at which time it can begin to undergo the permitting process.

While Thurston said lease negotiations with the developer were expected to take place parallel to that process, any agreement PEDA and Waterstone may arrive at is entirely contingent on receiving the required permitting from the city.  Only then will Waterstone be able to enter into agreements with any potential tenants.

  • In response to a request from the City Council for an update on PEDA's activities and progress in the past year, Thurston said he will appear with a presentation at the Feb. 14 council meeting.
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PIttsfield 16s Fall in Babe Ruth Regional Final

iBerkshires.com Sports
AUGUSTA, Maine -- The Norwalk, Conn., Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Stars Tuesday beat Pittsfield, 2-0, in the championship game of the New England Regional.
 
It marked the second shutout loss to the Connecticut State Champions in three days for Pittsfield. But it was a very different game this time around.
 
On Sunday, Norwalk beat Pittsfield, 10-0, in six innings to wrap up pool play.
 
That forced Pittsfield to win two straight games to get a rematch in the finals, and it did so, blanking Lyndon, Vt., on Monday and edging Eastern Mass Champion Lynn on Tuesday morning.
 
But in the title game, Norwalk pitcher Jaxon Ermo held Pittsfield to four hits and allowed two walks while striking out six in a complete-game shutout win.
 
For Pittsfield, Connor Paronto and Sam Glockner split time on the mound, striking out three.
 
But Norwalk generated 10 hits and scored a run in the second and a run in the sixth to give Ermo the offensive support he needed.
 
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