Plans for the top floor apartments include a fifth level for master bedrooms.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The developer of an Eagle Street property was stymied last month by technical difficulties in trying to make his case.
On Monday night, it took less than 10 minutes for him to get approval to turn the Tower and Porter Block back into an apartment building.
Owner Veselko Buntic and his architect Barry Berg, both of New York, had submitted plans more than a month ago on redeveloping the four-story, 130-year-old building.
Unfortunately, Buntic wasn't able to signal his presence at the virtual December meeting and, believing he was not present, the board postponed the application to the January meeting.
Monday both he and Berg appeared during the Zoom meeting to answer questions. Berg noted that the board had approved for the structure to be a boutique hotel back in 2018.
"We had done a proposal to convert the building to hotel use," he said. "Subsequent to that, it was decided that it would be better suited as apartments. So we went back to the original use: apartments on the four existing floors and then propose an addition on the roof. That would be the upper story of two duplex units on the fourth floor. So that's the current proposal."
The structure will have three apartments on each of the second and third level. Two will be two-bedroom units and the third will be one-bedroom. The two-bedrooms will be just over 1,000 square feet and the one-bedroom 761 square feet. The larger units will both have two full-bathrooms.
There will be two fourth-floor apartments extended upward with a master suite each on a fifth level. These larger apartments are proposed to be 1,300 and 1,500 square feet with masters of nearly 600 square feet for the smaller apartment and 565 square feet for the larger.
The building had originally been an apartment house with retail on the bottom level on the west, or Eagle Street, side. The east side, on North Church Street, will access the apartments.
Planner Robert Burdick asked about parking for the building. Chairman Brian Miksic noted that developments in the downtown center are not required to have parking spaces but that the board could put it in as a condition.
Buntic said his conversations with the past two mayors had included the use of parking in the Center Street lot either by "donation" or parking permit. He said he planned to bring this up with the new mayor, Jennifer Macksey.
"Whatever needs to be done, I will do that to secure parking so people who come there don't have to go to the office and acquire their own parking," he said.
Planner Paul Senecal questioned the drawings that only showed one egress for each unit into a central hallway when two were required. Berg said they were aware and would be working on it with the building inspector.
Miksic asked what they were doing with the storefronts on the Eagle Street said and Berg said they would be fitted for two stores.
Buntic has said he's put about $120,000-$140,000 into it so far for stabilization, demolition and asbestos removal since purchasing it in 2016. Much of the interior has been removed.
Planner Lynette Bond applauded the proposal, saying, "I think this is fantastic to see more housing for the city. ... We know in North Adams that we're facing a housing shortage so I applaud you. I think this is a great proposal."
In other business, Miksic asked that Planner Kyle Hanlon and Senecal bring nominations for chair and vice chair to the next meeting. Miksic, vice chairman, is currently acting as chair after the departure of longtime Chairman Michael Leary last month.
Miksic welcomed the board's newest members Jesee Egan Poirier and Rye Howard.
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Colegrove Park Recognized as Top 10 School Statewide in Attendance
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, left, Colegrove Principal Amy Meehan, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Dean of Students Jonathan Slocum pose with the Celtics basketball award on Friday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year.
Tim Connor, assistant director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's west and central district, arrived with a gold basketball signed by the champion team to reward the students for their achievement.
"An award like this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of work from all of you, the students, the parents, and especially Ms. Meehan and her wonderful staff, so a big round of applause," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, after leading the assembly in the gym to chants of "Colegrove rocks!" "I am so proud of this school and the community that all of you have built. So everyone should be really excited about today, and this is an excellent way to start your school."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas asked last year's fifth-graders at Colegrove to join her at the front of the gym for a special applause.
"When we track attendance of all the students in the whole district, these students have the highest attendance rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the entire district," Malkas said. "While all Colegrove students have been recognized as attendance all-stars, these students led the way in being attendance all-stars, so let's give them one more round of applause."
Colegrove switched this year to house Grades 3 to 6, so some of the younger students who helped earn the award are now at Brayton Elementary. However, all three elementary schools open last year saw improvement in attendance.
Schools statewide have been working to reduce chronic absenteeism — the percentage of students missing 10 percent of the school year, or 18 days — which peaked during the pandemic.
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
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The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more