image description — The newly expanded School Building Needs Commission reviewed the first steps in bringing on an OPM for the Crosby/Conte school project.

Pittsfield Seeks OPM for Crosby/Conte Proposal

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:04AM / Friday, February 06, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Building Needs Commission met with some new members under a new defining ordinance on Tuesday.

"You're joining at a very exciting time for our district," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said.

The Pittsfield Public Schools are seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts Schools Building Authority to rebuild and consolidate the outdated John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.

Last week, the City Council approved an ordinance for a 19-member School Building Needs Commission. The mayor appoints seven members, the superintendent appoints five, and seven are city officials.

The council also OK'd the appointment of Frank Laragione, Brendan Sheran, Judy Gitelson, Tonya Frazier, Jared LaBeau Sr., Cristina Duhamel, and William Cameron to the commission for terms between one and five years. Duhamel and LaBeau introduced themselves as new members on Tuesday.

The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager. This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest.

Duhamel, Pittsfield's deputy purchasing agent, reported that the OPM listing will be advertised on Wednesday and on Monday, and there will be a pre-bid walk-through at Crosby. Proposals are due by Feb. 18 under this timeline, and the top three will be brought forward for interviews.

Purchasing Agent Colleen Hunter-Mullett believes that the interviews will be open to the public, but said she will confirm that information.

Former and founding director of the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Jane Winn, asked that they select an OPM that has experience with overseeing green design and build processes that use less energy, no fossil fuels, and could be a resilient center in the event of an emergency.

"Please select an OPM that has experience using the latest technology to estimate the energy cost savings of different designs. Please select an OPM who can explore whether setting up a ground source district heating system would be an option for heating and cooling not only the new school, but the surrounding neighborhood. Please select an OPM that is familiar with the sustainable building materials that have low embodied carbon and are non-toxic," she asked.

"I wish that some of this had been included in your initial request for proposals."

Tags: Crosby/Conte project, MSBA, school building committee,

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Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road.

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said.

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said.

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said.

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said.

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.

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