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Pittsfield council accepts $1.37 million state grant to transform downtown alley into pedestrian connector
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved acceptance of a $1,370,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to convert an alley behind a downtown property into a pedestrian way with landscaping, lighting and paving; about $950,000 was identified for construction and demolition.
The Pittsfield City Council voted unanimously to accept a $1,370,000 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to fund streetscape and connector improvements behind a downtown building.
Why it matters: Councilors were told the project will convert a vehicular alley into a pedestrian connector between the intermodal train center and the nearby hotel and businesses, supporting new apartments and ground-floor commerce. City staff said the work includes paving, landscaping, fencing and lighting.
Director Dodds, the staff presenter for the item, told councilors the grant covers improvements for the alleyway behind the Right Building (described in the meeting as a privately owned connector between the intermodal train center, Columbus, and the Hotel on North). “It’s going to make it not a vehicular alley anymore, but a pedestrian way,” Dodds said, summarizing the planned paving, landscaping, fencing and lighting.
Councillor Warren pressed staff on the project’s multiyear timeline and on the risk of starting construction before all funds were secure. Warren said she was concerned that beginning an initial phase could leave an “unfinished walkway, an unfinished road, or something” if later installments were not delivered. City staff responded that the award is a state contract and that once the city executes the contract it will move forward under state funding rules.
The staff presentation said the grant is spread over multiple years; meeting discussion indicated the application referenced a July 2024 start date for award announcement purposes, but staff said the city would not be able to use contracted funds until after the beginning of the contract period (discussed as “after the first of the year” in the meeting).
During discussion, Dodds said the award includes approximately $950,000 for construction and demolition work; other line items and the precise breakdown were described in the application materials on file with the city.
The council approved the acceptance motion without recorded opposition. No construction schedule or contractor was finalized during the meeting; staff said further steps would follow once contracting is complete.
Votes at the meeting: Motion to accept the grant of $1,370,000 — approved unanimously.
