Downtown Pittsfield Inc.'s President Chuck Leach cuts the ribbon on the group's new North Street offices Thursday with Marketing Coordinator Kimberly Gritman, left, and Managing Director Rebecca Brien.

A crowd gathers for the ribbon cutting on Downtown Pittsfield Inc.'s new offices.

Brien welcomes visitors to the 2,000 square feet the organization has on North Street.

DPI is also offering co-working spaces and meeting rooms.

<

>

Mayor Peter Marchetti speaks at the opening on Thursday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Downtown Pittsfield Inc. cut the ribbon on its new home in the heart of North Street on Thursday morning.

The nonprofit membership organization moved earlier this summer and Managing Director Rebecca Brien said the best part is the number of people who stop in at 431 North St., which is sandwiched between myriad downtown activities.

It is a place where DPI sees expansion and evolution happening.

"Our neighbors in this block have been phenomenal," Brien said.

"Many people are stopping in and saying 'Hello' so it really it's exciting and now with the addition of the meeting spaces, we're getting to see a lot more of our community and our partners in a space that we would not have been able to do."

The former home of Jan Perry Realty provides space for membership-strengthening classes, seminars, informational sessions, and gatherings. DPI now occupies about 2,000 square feet — a far cry from its cramped former office at 33 Dunham Mall.

"It is working out so well to have this space. I think it's really a game changer for Downtown Pittsfield Inc., hopefully for Pittsfield as well," board President Charles "Chuck" Leach said.

"It's so much more visible, it's so much more dynamic, it's easier in and out for the team that works here every day, which is much, much more functional."

He explained that the new office is adaptable for DPI in terms of functionality and highlighted the available rental spaces within, encouraging people to use them.

DPI is also managing Framework co-working spaces. There are four semi-private offices for day or monthly rentals, a boardroom rental that holds up to 10 people, and a multi-use classroom space rental with flexible configurations that accommodates up to 20 people.

Mayor Peter Marchetti explained that he has been working diligently with the team to figure out the city and DPI's roles together under the new administration.

"I just want to renew my commitment to the downtown," he said.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and a dramatic rise in homelessness, loitering, and illegal behavior have been cited in the downtown area.  

"When I hear people say to me 'downtown is unsafe,' my first question is, 'is it unsafe or might you have had an uncomfortable moment?' Because I think there's a big difference between being unsafe and having an uncomfortable moment," Marchetti said earlier this year in regard to these concerns.

"When I ask that question, most of the time, they pause and stare at me and don't know how to respond."

At the time, he said statistics flag North Street as the safest in the city but "perception is reality in a lot of people's minds" so the administration has agreed to put a bike patrol on as often as possible in the corridor "to do some visuals that will make some people feel safe."

"We have been, with the help of the chief, putting out some bike patrols and some downtown foot patrols, undercover officers trying to change the philosophy of where we are," he said on Thursday, explaining that they will not tolerate illegal behavior but will also not throw the book at folks.

• Most Read

• Most Comments

• All News

• Blogroll

• Photos