The Clark barn is one of only three 18th-century barns remaining in Richmond. Of the three, the Clark barn is the best-preserved in terms of overall original condition according to national timber-framed building expert Jack Sobon, who dated the structure to approximately 1795.
In her letter to the editor, Susan Bachelder writes: “[These school buildings ]… cause us to reflect on some pretty good ideas about who we are and what we like to remember about ourselves when we see them. How we care for them today will create our future.”
Saint James Place, adjacent to the Great Barrington Town Hall and a scant block from the Mahaiwe Theater, stands to transform this southernmost section of downtown into a mini arts district.
In a joint letter to the editor four concernedGreat Barrington residents write: "If they are truly listening, then surely they are getting the message: Tearing down Searles to put in a new oversized 95 room hotel while pretending to “preserve” the historic site is not acceptable."
In his letter to the editor, Eric Shamie writes: "The intent of the bylaw is clear: to give an incentive to developers willing to take on the added expense and difficulty of saving and reusing a historic building."
In their letter to the editor, Bobby Houston and Beth Carlson write: "Sometimes it takes guts and commotion to save an authentic small town from super-sizing."
"I’d rather see Great Barrington be in the same camp with Santa Fe and Palm Beach than some other place promoting low-end, bus-tour tourism. Most people in this town think that only money speaks."
--- Hotel opponent Ann Fredericks
Retired filmmaker and small-scale redeveloper Bobby Houston has made a competing “full cash offer with no contingencies” for the Searles School property.
"You could imagine that demolition is anathema to historic preservation. On the other hand, you could get a new structure that pays homage to history. It all depends on what the Selectboard is willing to do.”
-- Town Planner Christopher Rembold
"With a strong CPA fund, the town will be better able to meet some of our important affordable housing, historic preservation and open space needs."
-- Great Barrington Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin
"I am very confident that we will be able to stand here sometime in the future, and find that Castle Street has been transformed by this restoration."
-- Castle Street LLC owner Tom Borshoff
