News & Updates

Issue 7: August 20, 2025

This month: Small & Smart ADU Design Challenge Launches! Plus, updates on the LOFTS at Greylock WORKS, First Fridays welcomes new students, and the new Partnership turns one!

Call for Entries!

The North Adams Partnership is excited to launch the Small & Smart ADU Design Challenge—a community-driven competition to create innovative, age-friendly Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) designs that help older adults live safely and independently in the neighborhoods they love.

With support from an AARP Community Challenge Grant, this initiative invites residents, students, designers, and builders to submit code-compliant ADU concepts that reflect the creativity, care, and character of North Adams.

As Massachusetts now allows ADUs by right on single-family lots, we have a unique opportunity to expand housing options that meet real community needs.

Winning designs will be selected by a local jury and made freely available to the public.

This is more than a design challenge—it’s a step toward a more connected, age-friendly future in North Adams.

Let’s build it together.

The LOFTS at
Greylock WORKS

The community in the LOFTS at Greylock WORKS is growing. To date, about 50% of the lofts slated for sale are either occupied or in contract, and a block of rental lofts will become available in September. The project is designed by LATENT Productions with residential sales represented by Sotheby’s. The lofts range in size from 980 to 2,500 SF, many of which have private outdoor space. Early condo sales have closed from $610,000 to $1,490,000.

The project is designed and developed by Karla Rothstein and Salvatore Perry of LATENT Productions with residential sales represented by Sotheby’s.

“From our perspective, a significant hurdle to investing in North Adams is a dearth of comparable projects that would justify the inherent risk,” says Rothstein. “In transforming a historically vital industrial campus that might otherwise have been torn down, we're both elevating design and establishing data points that should make a developer do a double-take and think: North Adams deserves another look.”

Residents enjoy stunning amenities, including entering through an elegant double-height lobby leading to a sunset overlook lounge; a daylit chic industrial corridor leads to the east library and adjacent sauna with a south-facing loggia; the elevator brings you to a 5,000 square foot roof terrace with unparalleled 360 degree mountain views. 

Healthy living is supported by a fitness area, a stroll through the landscaped campus to Greylock Yoga, and the fresh seasonal flavors at STATE Food & Drink.

First Fridays Welcomes MCLA & Williams Students

Join us for a Student Community Welcome during First Friday on September 5!

The event will bring students from Williams College and MCLA downtown for an afternoon and evening of food, music, and community connections to celebrate the start of the semester and highlight all that North Adams has to offer.

Students can enjoy a mixer with light refreshments, hear from a panel of community members about what goes on in North Adams and ways to get involved, and take part in a scavenger hunt bingo for prizes. The evening continues with student performances opening for local band Five Pound Horse, plus opportunities to explore downtown businesses and galleries and participate in other First Fridays programming.

Save the Date: October 9!

The new North Adams Partnership turns one on October 16, and we want to celebrate with you!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 9 from 5–7.

Stay tuned for more details!

Environmental Justice Council to meet at Drury High School

The Environmental Justice Council (EJC) will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at Drury High School. Hosted by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), the meeting will focus on the Mass Ready Act, Governor Healey’s proposed Environmental Bond Bill.

Filed in June, the bill aims to strengthen and protect Massachusetts communities through key infrastructure upgrades, including dams, bridges, and culverts. It also streamlines permitting for critical projects like culvert replacements, housing, and salt marsh restoration, ensuring faster and more effective progress.

The Mass Ready Act prioritizes protecting drinking water, waterways, and wildlife habitats while also investing in local economies. It supports farmers, expands access to fresh local food and seafood, and provides communities with resources to address flooding and extreme heat.

A portion of the meeting will be dedicated to public comment.

Help a small business right now!

Have you had a good experience with a small business in North Adams? Write them a ★★★★★ Google review! Here’s how to get the most out of your review:

1. Be specific. What did you order? What did you love about the experience you had? The more specific your feedback, the more relatable and helpful it will be to others.

2. Add photos. Google prioritizes reviews with photos, so adding a photo of your meal or cappuccino will ensure more people see it.

3. Name names if you can! Calling out someone by name highlights their effort and makes them feel valued.

Leaving a positive Google review takes five minutes but can have a huge collective impact on the small business community.

Share your updates!

If you have an update about a development project in North Adams or you are involved with an initiative helping to grow North Adams, we’d love to share it in our next monthly newsletter! Submit by clicking on the button below.