David Moresi is building a company by investing in city properties.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — "I love North Adams," said David Moresi, owner of the David Moresi Real Estate Development firm. "I am a firm believer in the growth and development of the area. It's all going to happen."

For about six years, Moresi has backed his words with actions. He is currently in the midst of a major renovation at the former AME Zion Church at 45 Chestnut St., a project that is expected to cost about $500,000, he said. The work is progressing well and Moresi said he expects that the renovations will be completed by spring. 

The over 160-year-old property — the building was once a one-room schoolhouse — is being transitioned to a trio of two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominiums suitable for senior citizen living, Moresi said. The "Chestnut Commons," as the current project is named, is being built as a "community within a community" and will host a courtyard and a fountain.

The idea is to offer an atmosphere of friendliness, Moresi said.

"We're creating this little community and it will all be upscale," he said.

Most of the living space will be designed at first-floor level, with the master bedrooms built on the first floor and second bedrooms designed as loft-style space on a second floor.Included in the design are 16-foot vaulted ceilings and skylights, Moresi said.

"There will be no barriers [to elderly residents]," he said. "It's an ideal location, everything is within walking distance."

Moresi said he plans to begin marketing the living spaces early during 2007. "This is a quality project, something that we are going to be proud to put our name to," he said.

'He Turns Them Around'

Mayor John Barrett III acknowledged Moresi's efforts and noted that the city's growth is underway.

"[Moresi] recognized it," Barrett said. "He's been ahead of the curve. Others have bought properties cheap, and bled them dry, then they leave them ruined and rundown. [Moresi] buys properties and puts into them, he turns them around. He's getting good return, you'd think others would catch on."

More To Come

he Chestnut Street project is not destined as Moresi's last. If approved by city officials, another housing renovation could begin in the spring at the former Cummings Glass Studio building, which is located behind the city's public library. Plans are to create three residential units at the site and design the space so that it appeals to a "younger clientele," Moresi said.

Moresi said he also plans to purchase an adjacent Arnold Place property so that he can build a garage and provide resident parking.

"I remember when I heard [Barrett] talk about bringing housing to the downtown, I agreed and a light bulb went off," he said. "I believe this will restore life to the downtown. In acquiring and developing properties, we are bringing people back to the downtown, and helping with the housing situation."

Moresi has renovated numerous buildings in the city and surrounding communities and sold many of the renovated properties to private homeowners.

"We do things the right way," he said. "We use quality materials and I have the best people to work with me."

Rehab, Top To Bottom

"He's done a good job with every place he's done," Barrett said. "He's done this in almost every neighborhood in the city. He, unlike the slumlords of the past, took rundown houses and rehabbed them top to bottom, new appliances, everything. He's doing this with great success and we wish there were four or five more like him."

Moresi's business launched in 2000, and he said he is committed to growing his company and investing in the city.

"We're growing, there's no doubt," he said. "Last summer, we had about 10 full-time people working for us. We have a fleet of four trucks. I'm acquiring additional properties, and we stand by our properties. We are not slumlords."

Tom Rotolo, owner of the Rotolo Home Improvement and Maintenance firm of Adams, is among the project sub-contractors. Rotolo and two additional workers were at the Chestnut Street site today. The work of building new structure within existing brick wall and wooden roof is challenging, he said. 

"We run into a lot of things," Rotolo said. "But it is really nice to work on a building with so much history."