North Adams Has Buyers for Old Schools

iBerkshires.com   reports two vacant school buildings could become high-end apartments and an advanced manufacturing training center if the City Council signs off on their sale.

The council on Tuesday night will be asked to approve the sale three city properties — Johnson School, Sullivan School and undeveloped land in Vermont — for prices below their assessed values.

The city's been trying to sell off properties over the last few years with mixed results. But Mayor Thomas Bernard has said he would take a more "disciplined" approach to divesting surplus property. Requests for proposals were issued for all three properties in September along with 367 Houghton St.

He is recommending that Johnson School be sold to Moresi Commercial Investments LLC for $225,000, below its assessed value of $914,300.

Three times was the charm for Sullivan School, left vacant by the renovation of the old Drury High into Colegrove Park Elementary School. This time, the city received two bids but the mayor is recommending the lower bid of $1.

The 50-year-old school is assessed at $2.1 million, up from $1.1 million when it was first put out to bid in 2017.

Berkshire Advanced Manufacturing Training and Education Center, represented by its President Michael Therrien and Vice President Brad Dilger, proposes to use the building as a workforce training center and an hub for entrepreneurs, artists and established businesses. The school has classrooms and opens spaces that can accommodate training programs and equipment.

BAMTEC expects to invest $11 million in capital improvements and $3 million equipent, and have 10 full-time staff positions.