Page 9 - BusinessWest July 7, 2025

“We have great
tourism that
obviously goes on
in the Berkshires,
but Pittsfield
is kind of that
forgotten space.”
but 200 to 300 will be needed, Mayor Pete Marchetti said;
• The demolition and rebuild of historic Wahconah Park, with
the goal of bringing collegiate league baseball back to Pittsfield;
• Early-stage work to gauge interest in forming a business
improvement district in the downtown;
• Late feasibility-stage work to build a new elementary school,
one that would merge two existing schools into one; and
• Several infrastructure projects, including work on North Street.
Housing remains a critical issue in the community, said those
we spoke with — both to meet an urgent need for more options
among workers, the elderly, and other constituencies, and to bring
more vibrancy to a downtown still suffering from the side effects
of COVID, especially the transition to remote work and hybrid
schedules, which has reduced the level of business activity in the
neighborhood.
Jonathan Butler, president and CEO of the regional economic
development agency 1Berkshire, said there is no turning back the
clock in this regard, leaving housing as the best option for commer-
cial space in the downtown — and for providing the critical mass
of people needed to support the wide range of hospitality-related
businesses.
“If it isn’t daily workforce that’s occupying the restaurants and
coffee shops and visiting the businesses, then it needs to be resi-
dents that are doing it in the morning and the evening after work,
or while working remotely,” he explained. “They’re replacing those
people who were formerly working in commercial spaces and buy-
ing their morning coffee and lunch.”
“In the spirit of post-pandemic urban planning, downtown Pitts-
field, like a lot of other urban centers, has seen a shift away of com-
mercial activity — we’re seeing employers shifting to more work-life
balance models with remote working and hybrid office models,” he
explained. “So we’re seeing some investments in housing, to meet
the city’s needs and a much larger regional need.”
For this latest installment of its Community Spotlight series,
BusinessWest turns its
lens on the Brooklyn of
the Berkshires and the
Pittsfield
Continued on page 11 >>
Laurie Tierney, seen in front of Hotel on North, describes
Pittsfield as the “Brooklyn of the Berkshires,” which is meant
as a compliment.
Staff Photo
THE LIFE AND TIMES
James Garvey James Garvey
A C E L E B R AT I O N M E M O R I E S A C E L E B R AT I O N O F O F O U R O U R B E S T B E S T M E M O R I E S
Thursday, Thursday,
Hosted by Hosted by
September 25, 2025 September 25, 2025
John, Sue, and
5:00 - 7: 00 5:00 - 7: 00 PM PM
Quinn Garvey and
benefiting The Gray House
Westfield River Brewing Co., Westfield River Brewing Co.,
707 College Highway
Remarks by Remarks by
Southwick, MA
Attorney Scott Foster,
Jesse Baker and
Darby O’Brien
Donation requested - Donation requested - $35 (100% of ticket sales goes to The Gray House)
a
Business W est << COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT >>
JULY 7, 2025
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