The new eatery would take up the block from Crossey Place to Veazie Street.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Porches inn owners are planning to tear down the former Harvest Christian Ministries building on River Street to build a new restaurant that will take up the block between Crossey Place and Veazie Street.
The new dining establishment has been rumored for some time as a complementary addition to the 20-year-old hotel across from Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.
"The project constitutes a significant improvement over the vacant lots and existing building, while making efficient use of the site and is an overall improvement on the current conditions," according to the plans submitted for the Planning Board's May meeting.
Parent company Berkshire Hills Development Co. LLC will use the lots it owns on the west side of Veazie Street and plans to purchase an adjacent lot on Veazie. Parking will be on Veazie and the lots to the west, with the restaurant near the corner of Veazie and River.
The two-story brick building housed a soup kitchen that operated for more than 20 years until the Bennington, Vt., ministry sold it to Berkshire Hills in 2018 for $235,000. The two lots adjoining it on River Street are a parking lot and the fourth has a two-story apartment house on just over half an acre owned by David Carver.
Preliminary plans show a long modern structure of about 3,900 square feet along River Street that is screened from the street by trees and plantings, with an outdoor patio and parking in the rear. It will include a partial basement for storage.
"The Restaurant will add jobs and continue to add vibrancy and promote further economic development in the neighborhood and the City as a whole," according to the application, which also states the eatery will be open five days a week from 5 to 9 and lunch during the busy season from noon to 3, with hours subject to seasonal variation.
The lots are in a business 2 zone in which restaurants are permitted by rate. The applicant also will appear before the Conservation Commission (because of the proximity of the Hoosic River) and the Zoning Board of Adjustment before returning to the Planning Board with final plans.
The Porches, a set of reconfigured Victorian apartment buildings, does not have a restaurant. It was given permission in 2017 to tear down two buildings on the east side of Veazie Street for studio and reception space (the grand opening of the domelike structure was upset by the pandemic) and so that guests could be served a light breakfast.
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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region.
In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.
"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."
In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.
"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."
The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways.
"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."
Jesse Saylor of TSKP Studio, the school project designer, said the conductivity of the soils were comparable or better than three recent school completed in Connecticut.
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