Pittsfield Council OKs Incentives for Housing Project

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council supported two items to facilitate a housing development in the downtown area.

On Tuesday, orders to amend the Housing Development Zone and an order for a 10-year tax increment exemption for 100 Wendell Ave. were unanimously approved. AM Management plans to convert a commercial building into "The Pointe" with 28 units, six of them designated affordable.

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa loves that there is an affordable housing aspect to the project.

"Something I'm learning is how much we have to stack financing to make something like this happen," she said. "So it's going to be two years out but this is so important for our community."

The city adopted an HDIP zone several years ago around the downtown area and has expanded it to Tyler Street and other locations with updates in 2017, 2018 and 2020. This amendment incorporates the Wendell Avenue property and 55 Linden St., which also has the potential for housing development.

"The Housing Development Zone is a state program that we had applied for when it first came out, which was a number of years ago," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds explained.

Last week, the Affordable Housing Trust agreed to look into a condominium and rental housing project at 55 Linden St., the former Polish Falcon Club. The nearly 10,000-square-foot building sits on just under two acres at the corner of Linden and Center streets.

The developer had submitted a late eligibility application for Community Preservation Act funds that was not considered.

In other news, the council approved multiple appointments to city boards and commissions:

• Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey to the Homelessness Advisory Committee
• Frank LaRagione to the School Building Needs Commission
• Community Development & Housing Program Manager Nate Joyner and Jay Ogle to the Mobile Home Rent Control Board
• former councilor Karen Kalinowksy to the Council on Aging

Additionally, Newell Young, Chris Haley, Erin Forbush, Kim Borden, Justine Dodds, and Karen Ryan were reappointed to the Homelessness Advisory Committee.

Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:55AM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.