PEDA Planning Three Open Houses for Stanley Business Park

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Economic Development Authority will host three open house events on Aug. 24, Aug. 31, and Sept. 14 at the William Stanley Business Park to showcase the park's developable building sites. PEDA is encouraging potential developers, builders, existing businesses and community members to attend and learn about current and future plans and view available properties.

Each open house will run from 4 to 7 p.m., at the PEDA office on the corner of Kellogg Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Refreshments will be offered, and guests can gather information and see firsthand the sites available at the park. In addition, guided walking tours will be offered at 4:30 and 6 p.m.

"The summer season draws numerous visitors to the area, many of whom own or run businesses, so it's an ideal time to highlight these wonderful building site opportunities," said Corydon Thurston, PEDA executive director. "These are folks who already love to vacation in the Berkshires, and we'd like to encourage them, along with our local area business people, to consider growing their companies here at the William Stanley Business Park."

In addition to current features and recent park enhancements, attendees can view the proposed site for Woodlawn Crossing.

After 22 years in Pittsfield, Walmart desires to relocate to this site and expand into a new 190,000-square-foot Supercenter, similar to others in the region, that includes a supermarket. This project, offered by Needham-based Waterstone Retail Development, would transform the blighted 16-acres of concrete slabs and blacktop into a retail destination that is expected to leverage mixed-use opportunities and new investment on adjacent and nearby neighborhood properties. PEDA anticipates that Woodlawn Crossing and the potential for additional retail businesses, medical offices, research and development, life sciences and light manufacturing businesses, will bring new entrepreneurial focus on the eight available building sites within the park.

ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:46AM / Monday, April 07, 2025

ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.

It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.

While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.

"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."

She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.

"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.

The warming center will close on April 30.