NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A former worship space at 85 Main St. will be now be home for a martial arts studio. 

 

The Planning Board on Monday approved an application for Steeple City Jiu Jitsu to set up shop in the former Green, a community and event space operated by Terra Nova Church. 

 

The church, which has branches in Albany and Saratoga, N.Y., closed in North Adams last fall, and the Green along with it. The space had been used for community forums, farmers markets, and other events. 

 

"I currently own a space that's part time, and my business partner does in Williamstown, and we're going to combine efforts and start a jiu jitsu studio in 85 Main St.," Timothy Stys told planners. "We're pretty much done everything up to this point except for this, and we're going to sign the lease and potentially start in August, having a vibrant kids program and adult program."

 

Stys operates RGS Underground, a jiu jitsu and kickboxing studio in Readsboro, Vt., and his business partner runs Jon Manley MMA in Williamtstown. They each have about 30 students but expect that number to climb once they have a full-time dedicated studio. 

 

"We are combining our efforts, assets, skills, and experience to bring an already established product to the local community on a bigger scale with full-time class offerings each week," Stys wrote in his application. 

 

Stys said he has a purple belt earned under Manley and has nearly eight years experience in jiu jitsu and a year in kickboxing. He also has owned and operated the Readsboro General Store for nearly five years. 

 

Manley has a black belt in jiu jitsu and is a wrestler and professional mixed martial arts fighter. He has nearly 20 years experience in those disciplines. 

 

The studio will occupy suites 105, 107 and 109 and hours will range from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

 

The board also approved signage for Wheeler & Taylor at 466 Curran Highway, the old WNAW (WMNB) radio station. 

 

Northern Berkshire Broadcasting Co. Inc. sold the building to Curran Memorial Properties LLC, with principal Chad Yonker, for $200,000 in 2023. Yonker is chairman & CEO of GoodWorks Financial Group, of which Wheeler & Taylor is a member. 

 

The insurance agency has offices in Great Barrington, Stockbridge and Pittsfield. This will be its first in North Berkshire. 

 

A representative from Saxton Sign of Albany, N.Y., said the signage would include an electronic message center to promote their products and services. 

 

"They also would like the board to know that they will donate generously on the sign for public service events and serve civic organizations, community events and such, and then the sign will not flash or animate," he said. "It will not change more than I would say every maybe 30 seconds."

 

The sign will also dim at night so it won't be too bright.

 

Board Chair Brian Miksic said the board's main issue with electronic signs has been their "volatility" and didn't see a problem with 30 seconds. 

 

The board also approved short-term rental applications for Craig Ferris for property at 37 Watson St., and Greta Gacchetti for property at 202 Furnace St., Apartment 1.