Bill Shein is the founder and editor of The Berkshire Argus, a new publication that provides in-depth, long-form reporting. (http://www.berkshireargus.com).
Email: billshein [ahtt] outlook.com
In the final installment of THE AIRPORT, Bill Shein presents a detailed history of Great Barrington’s zoning bylaw and its key role in the past, present, and still-unknown future of the town’s 92-year-old country airport.
The Great Barrington Airport offers lessons to those interested in aviation as a hobby and, in some cases, a career with the airlines. Whether the flight school creates safety risks for those living nearby has long been a concern of some of its neighbors.
The debate over the airport’s level of activity and the noise and disturbance it produces has been contentious for decades. Better information and consistent zoning enforcement would help.
According to Fairview Hospital officials, each year 15 emergency helicopter air-ambulance flights lift off from Great Barrington Airport to rush Fairview patients to other hospitals. Here’s how those flights work—and how they fit into our rural health-care system.
The airport sits atop an aquifer that supplies Great Barrington’s water. Over the decades, it has stored as much as 54,000 gallons of petroleum in underground tanks—and for years failed to fully comply with state environmental regulations. It's in a zoning district with strict water-protection rules. Is the town doing enough to monitor its activities?
With its level of operations at issue in court and in front of town boards, why has there been so little effort to document what's actually happening at the airport?
The complicated present of the Great Barrington Airport is deeply rooted in its equally complicated past. Rick Solan had little to do with what happened before 2008, but it’s what threatens his present and future.
As Berkshire Aviation Enterprises goes in front of the Great Barrington Selectboard for the third time seeking release from zoning restrictions, a contentious community discussion is again underway. In this in-depth series, Bill Shein examines the issues, people, and history swirling around a small-town airport.
With other similarly challenged communities around the country taking far bolder action on housing, when will Great Barrington and the southern Berkshires do the same? Meanwhile, Alander Group’s Ian Rasch wants to facilitate a broader community conversation around housing as he pushes ahead with two high-end downtown projects. The final installment of Bill Shein's "The Developer" series.
In addition to his downtown Great Barrington projects, Alander Group’s Ian Rasch has set out to transform the century-old Prospect Lake Park campground in Egremont into an upscale "park model RV" resort. The change is a shock to those who spent summers there for years. Rasch says he has plans to make space for the community.
As developer Ian Rasch’s negotiations with the BCC Foundation dragged on through 2020 and 2021, and some proposed tenants dropped out, the hot real-estate market and an unexpected expense may have combined to nudge the project from health-and-wellness center to large, luxury apartments. In part five of seven of this Edge In Focus series, more details about the evolution of this Alander Group project.
Now that he owns the historic Mahaiwe Block at the corner of Main and Castle streets, Rasch will shortly begin a significant two-year renovation project. He’s offered financial and relocation assistance to the few remaining tenants. What should other downtown tenants expect if their buildings go up for sale—like the Gorham & Norton building did this week?
Developer Ian Rasch says his formula for acquisition and redevelopment will enable Alander to contribute to a “mixed-income” downtown in Great Barrington. How accurate that is, and what it means for affordable and workforce housing, may depend in part on whether the town steps up soon with effective housing policy, financial resources, or both.
Concerns regarding the affordability of living in Great Barrington continue amidst reports that the 117-year-old Mahaiwe Block at the corner of Main Street and Castle Street may be sold to real-estate developer Ian Rasch of Alander Group.
Discussion about the two bylaws on Monday night will surely focus on the effectiveness and potential impacts of each proposal, and if they’ll do what proponents say they will. Bill Shein offers a recap of all that's happened so far.
