MassDOT, Construction Firm Interested in Stanley Park Lots

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Site 9 redevelopment project is close to being finished with only some final amendments before approval.

"Site nine redevelopment project, if you look out there, you can tell we're getting very close to being completed. What's going on now is we're working with Mass DEP and the EPA to finalize the amended ERE," said Executive Director Michael Coakley at last week's meeting of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority.

The ERE refers to the "easement and restriction for environmental conditions" at the site, required by the state's Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The amended documents will be sent to the state for approval before transferring the property to Mill Town.

"Hopefully, within a couple weeks, we're going to be all set, and then we sign that and send it off to the commissioner of DEP, and then she will hopefully approve it right away. And then everything will be set, and then we can do the transfer of the property, the 4.7 acres, to Mill Town," Coakley said.

Coakley brought up the negotiations with state Department of Transportation to use the parking lot adjacent to the Berkshire Innovation Center as a training site for commercial driver's licenses and motorcycles, noting the agency is still interested.

He also brought up the parking lot at Silver Lake Boulevard that is of interest to be used by Ludlow Construction.

"Ludlow Construction, it's going to be doing major work on the West Street project coming up, and they are looking for an area to store their equipment materials, and they've contacted me about leasing that parking lot," Coakley said.

The board authorized Coakley to negotiate the terms of a licensing agreement for Ludlow Construction.

Coakley also said leases with these two organizations will bring about $60,000 annually.

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. 

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

 

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members. 

 

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

 

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

 

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

 

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."