Work On New Cumberland Farms in North Adams Could Begin This Fall

North Adams sold its former Department of Public Works buildings and nearly 1 acre of property to Cumberland Farms, which intends to build a store there, according to Mayor Thomas Bernard.

The Berkshire Eagle  reports the sale price was $575,000 for what many refer to as "the old city yard" at 227 Ashland St. The DPW relocated to a newer facility on Hodges Cross Road in 2017.

The mayor said Cumberland Farms has been seeking a location for a bigger store. The purchase-and-sale agreement was signed in October 2017. The sale closed July 1.

First, an environmental cleanup is needed. A review estimated the cost of that at about $263,000. Bernard said the sales contract agreed to by North Adams requires the city to pay half the cost of the cleanup, limited to a maximum of half the purchase price. As of now, half of the cleanup cost is estimated at $131,500.

Officials with Cumberland Farms declined to comment on the building project or the fate of the existing Cumberland Farms at 70 Ashland St. Bernard said he believes the company intends to start construction in the fall.