Funds For The Redevelopment Of Former Pittsfield GE Site Finally In Place

Mayor Linda Tyer will join "Slater and Marjo In The Morning" on Tuesday to discuss a litany of things including the redevelopment plans for the former Pittsfield GE site. Pittsfield City Hall released the following:

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, Mayor Linda Tyer announced $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for Site 9, an award which enables the redevelopment project to move forward to the first phase of construction this summer.

Mayor Tyer delivered the announcement at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) and was joined by city and state officials, members of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority (PEDA), EDM Architecture, Engineering, and Management, Roux, SLR Consulting, and Mill Town Capital. Site 9, which sits on 16.5 acres, is the largest and most visible section of the William Stanley Business Park in Pittsfield.

For more than 20 years, the site remained undeveloped and in a state of deterioration. With total funding now in place, Site 9’s comprehensive redevelopment project, which stands at $10.8 million, will proceed and include the addition of internal roadways, utilities, and green space, transforming the site into a subdivided parcel ready for private investment and developments.

“I am absolutely thrilled to designate American Rescue Plan Act funding award to the Site 9 redevelopment project. This award now closes the financial loop and symbolizes the beginning of a new and promising chapter for the William Stanley Business Park, and all of the exciting possibilities that lie ahead,” said Mayor Tyer. “It’s important to recognize that through the years, this project has benefitted from the solid collaboration between the city and the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority and our state partners to strengthen Pittsfield’s position for new and expanding businesses at the park. This is a proud moment for all of us.”

PEDA Chairman Mick Callahan also reflected on this longstanding and collaborative partnership.

“This announcement is great news for the city of Pittsfield and the William Stanley Business Park,” said Callahan. “It is an affirmation of the strategic partnership created five years ago between the city, PEDA, and the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation.”

Michael Coakley, the city’s business development manager and interim executive director of PEDA, said the site’s revitalization will appeal to prospective businesses looking to either expand or move to Pittsfield.

“This is great news for Pittsfield and the Morningside neighborhood, which is home to Site 9. I have taken several businesses to the site, but they were all reluctant to invest their funds due to the unknown costs associated with the preparation of the site,” he said.

“We knew we needed to do something different and make it more attractive to businesses. With the significant funding, Site 9 will finally begin its transformation into an attractive option for private sector development,” said Coakley.

Throughout the project’s lifespan, the state has demonstrated its consistent support for the project. In 2022, the project was awarded a $3 million MassWorks grant, and in 2021, Site 9 was awarded an $880,000 MassDevelopment Site Readiness Grant, one of 10 municipalities across the state to be selected for the competitive award and $264,000 Brownfields Grant.

In 2022, Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier secured a $500,000 Economic Development earmark in the state budget. “The development of the Williams Stanley Business Park is a great example of a gateway city utilizing local, state, and federal tools to transform a blighted property into a vibrant site for new businesses,” said Housing and Economic Development Undersecretary Ashley Stolba. “We applaud the city of Pittsfield for securing these critical funds. The Commonwealth looks forward helping more communities revitalize their downtowns and bring new jobs to western Massachusetts.”

The bidding process for this redevelopment project, which will include four phases, will begin in the spring followed by construction this summer.

Tim Burke, of Mill Town Capital, affirmed his business’ ongoing commitment to the area. “Mill Town has prioritized making Pittsfield a better place to live since our founding in 2016. Site 9 has always been an area of interest given its location situated between two of the city’s largest employers,” said Burke.

“We are pleased to see the city pushing this initiative forward and prioritizing the repair of this long-troubled parcel. We’re optimistically looking to the future for this area, and we look forward to partnering with the city on future development opportunities for Site 9.”

William Stanley Business Park/Site 9 redevelopment funding stack:

2021: Brownfields Grant, $264,000

2021: Site Readiness Grant, $880,000

2022 : Economic Development earmark (Rep. Farley-Bouvier), $500,000

2022: MassWorks Grant, $3,000,000

2023: GE Landscaping Fund, $1.3 million

2023: PEDA Foundation Fund, $400,000 2023: ARPA, $4.5 million For more information on the William Stanley Business Park, please visit williamstanleybp.com