PITTSFIELD, Mass. - During her State of the City speech at Monday’s inauguration ceremony, Pittsfield mayor Linda Tyer outlined several major development projects the city will be undertaking in 2022. 

What You Need To Know

  • Pittsfield will be undertaking several development projects this year
  • The city will begin work on Site 9 and demolish the long-vacant Hess station on Tyler Street
  • ARPA funds will be used for several projects, including a major renovation of the Ashley Reservoir’s water treatment facility
  • Applications for the second round of ARPA funding will open later this month

The city will begin working on the old G.E. property known as Site 9, with the ultimate goal of turning it into a business park.

The city also has an agreement in place to buy the long-vacant former Hess gas station on Tyler Street. It will be demolished and re-developed by the end of the year.

“It was identified as a potential gathering space, a flexible space,” said city planner C.J. Hoss. “We heard things from a food truck gathering space to simply just a gateway from Tyler Street to Morningside Community School.”

Tyer also announced several projects to be funded by American Rescue Plan Act money, including expanding the YMCA's childcare programs, a new homeless shelter at the First United Methodist Church, and a change to how they’ll treat drinking water at the Ashley Reservoir.

“We’re basically eliminating with this project the use of chlorine in the process,” said public utilities commissioner Ricardo Morales of the reservoir project. “That’s major in terms of the health risks for both our employees there and any potential spills that could happen.”

These investments are from just the first round of ARPA funds, and Tyer said they will issue an invitation for businesses and organizations to apply for the second round funding later this month.