image description — There are about 20 commercial vacancies in downtown Pittsfield, most for more than a year, but the city has seen 25 new businesses open in the past two years.

Marchetti Details Vacancies, New Efforts in Downtown Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:07AM / Thursday, September 18, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The downtown has 20 commercial vacancies, and 16 have been empty for more than a year.

On Monday, Mayor Peter Marchetti gave an update on the occupancy levels of commercial spaces in the corridor and the city's strategies to recruit and retain local businesses.

"I know when we talk about the downtown, we always talk about the vacancy rates, and I think one of the pieces that we need to do a better job is advertising and blowing our own horn about the businesses," he told the subcommittee on community and economic development.

"And so you can see the list of 25 new businesses that have opened up in the downtown since January of 2024, and some of the cases, there's been some moving pieces, but I think we also need to celebrate the work that's happening in the downtown with the new businesses that we have opened."

In 2021, Downtown Pittsfield Inc. indicated there were 160 storefronts and 540 total businesses in the downtown area.

The four properties that have been vacant for one year or less include the former scuba store at 369 North St., Placita Latina Salvadoran & Mexican cuisine, which moved from 41 North to Wendell Avenue Extension, and the former Dottie's Coffee Lounge at 444 North.

Marchetti reported hearing "rumblings" that Dottie's may reopen. In the last couple of days, the eatery suggested an upcoming announcement and sought weekend baristas on its Facebook page.

Seven downtown properties have been vacant for more than one year, two properties have been vacant for more than two years, and seven have been vacant for more than three years.

This includes the former That's A Wrap at 132 Fenn St., the former Spot at 38 North, and the building next to Walgreens, all vacant for more than three years.

The mayor explained, "We wanted to take a comprehensive look at all the things that have been happening in the downtown to kind of talk about our strategies and where we've been."

He reported that the city is working with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and MassDevelopment's Transformative Development Initiative to establish a Business Improvement District within the downtown. A BID is a locally established, geographic area where property owners pay a fee for additional services such as enhanced sanitation, security, marketing, and public space improvements.

"These are in its earliest stages, and we are relying on the consultants from TDI to help us through those conversations," Marchetti said.

"But we believe there could be a perfect fit with the stakeholders that are interested right now in creating a BID, and that BID can help supplement some of the services that the city of Pittsfield's tax dollars can't handle."

Marchetti summarized initiatives between the city, DPI, and TDI, including the Let It Shine mural project, Dunham Mall improvements, and the Pearl Ambassador Program.

"The city has put forth $835,500 to leverage development projects, with the city and MassDevelopment in the TDI district totaling $35,470,418," he reported, adding that some of the funds came from Underutilized Properties, the Housing Development Incentive Program, the American Rescue Plan Act, and Community Development Block Grants.

Representatives also spoke to a handful of businesses during a walking tour of downtown, and Marchetti said they are holding quarterly meetings with the downtown business stakeholders, business owners, and DPI.

Several partners were also highlighted: Berkshire Black Economic Council, Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, Entrepreneurship For All (EforAll), Massachusetts Small Business Development Center, and the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corp.

The update was requested by Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the subcommittee.

Kavey explained that they wanted to create a conversation about the good things happening in downtown, adding, "and I know that it says commercial vacancy. I think that in order for us to have a clear picture of what's going on, it's important for us to see all the data points."

Lampiasi added that there is confusion about what is happening downtown, and agreed it is important to remember where the city is succeeding with new businesses. She found the possibility of a BID "really exciting" and has considered how Pittsfield can channel its focus and bring the business community together to improve the downtown.

"It is just as important to outline and identify the buildings that seem stuck and stagnant, and we can do the hard work of figuring out why that is true and what we can do as a community, as a government to help move them forward," she said.

Tags: commercial development, downtown, Downtown Pittsfield, North Street, vacancy,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

Summer Sizzle!

0% APR for new card holders. Apply today at Greylock! Subject to credit approval. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Prospect Meadow Farm Opens New Vocational Barn

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Thursday, June 18, 2026

A charcuterie board at the event displays fare from some of the regional producers.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prospect Meadow Farm last week officially opened a new barn to sell plants and other goods it produces.

Prospect Meadow Farm Berkshires is an expansion of ServiceNet's first farm in Hatfield that has provided meaningful agricultural work, fair wages, and personal and professional growth to hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since opening in 2011.

The Berkshires farm opened on Crane Avenue two years ago and has now introduced a new vocational and unwinding space for the more than 25 farmhands who get paid a minimum wage.

"This is a facility for our folks who work on the farm to learn additional skills and do additional work," said Vice President of Vocational Services Shawn Robinson at the Friday event. "So we have a food packaging space, we've got a walk-in cooler space, we've got a floral design space, we've got a farm store room for staff, lunch room, and then a meditation room that we're standing in now, which is when you're having those hard moments and you need to get away from everything.

"This is going to be a peaceful place you can find and sort of find some comfort, and then hopefully get back to work."

The barn was built by funds from the state Executive Office of Economic Development and the state Department of Agricultural Resources that equated to around $600,000, with ServiceNet contributing around the same amount. The structure took over a year to build.

The state's Department of Developmental Services Commissioner Sarah Peterson spoke on how meaningful this farm and ServiceNet is to her and that this place is important to those who need it.

"Places like this are so crucial because they create opportunities for people living with disabilities that aren't plentiful," she said. "People living with developmental and intellectual disabilities have an unemployment rate over 25 percent five times the rate for people without disabilities, even more jarring is under appointment, which is at 80 percent. That means that four out of every five people with disabilities earn below market rate wages and have limited upward mobility.

"The building itself is really impressive, but what you're really seeing here is the result of vision. It's about opportunity, it's about community, and it's founded in the belief that every person deserves the chance to learn and work and contribute to thrive under the leadership of ServiceNet."

One aspect of the barn will be the market where produce from the farm and other local growers will be sold as well as keeping the tradition of Jodi's Seasonal, which previously occupied the location, alive with plant sales. The market will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Everything you see in terms of the tomatoes, the fresh produce, that's all done with the hands of our farm hands here, individuals with disabilities who get out every single morning, get in those greenhouses, put their hands in the dirt, and make all of this happen, and this is just the start," said Robinson. "This farm is a little over a year old at this point, but give it another two years, and we hope to be growing enough food to share throughout the Berkshires."

Robinson said the farm is focused on local food security, recently partnering with the Hatfield Council on Aging and planning to work toward making enough food to partner with places in the Berkshires.

He said the barn serves the Hatfield farm and what the employees here needed.

"We've been able to learn the needs of the farm hands who work there and so we have learned that they need a comfortable break space for those times where it's hard to be out in the fields, we've learned that a quiet space for when you're going through something you need to be away from people are key, and then also we have a small farm store in Hatfield, but we've seen increasing interest in retail work from our participants, so we thought it was time for a larger-scale farm store," he said.

Robinson noted that Prospect Meadow Farm has helped the individuals working there feel valued and head.

View Full Story