North Adams Plans Redevelopment of Heritage State Park Buildings

North Adams’ Heritage State Park is moving from closure to a formal planning phase. The city is starting exterior design work for its 19th-century buildings, which were closed in 2022 because of leaky roofs and mold.

The site has mostly been unused since then. The Freight Yard Pub and the Berkshire Academy of Advanced Musical Studies are the main occupants.

In October 2025, the city secured a $250,000 grant from the Massachusetts Community One Stop for Growth program. This funding will allow the city to hire an architecture firm to create plans and documents for early design decisions and help North Adams seek more funding.

Phase 1 planning and design scope

The grant supports a pre-design effort to develop exterior design concepts and documentation for the property. The city received interest from about 20 architecture and engineering firms for the project.

The chosen firm will create exterior design plans for Buildings 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. The focus will be on roofing and siding to restore weather-tight exteriors and improve durability. Building 4 is not included because it houses the Hoosac Tunnel museum, which is run by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Exterior design focus and project scope

• Buildings 1–3 are near the Freight Yard Pub. Building 5 is the yellow structure with chipping paint, and Building 6 houses the Berkshire Academy of Advanced Musical Studies.
• The project aims to upgrade roofing and siding to protect the buildings from moisture and preserve historic details.
• Architectural and engineering plans will support a future construction phase, pending additional funding.
• The project includes $50,000 to prepare the property for redevelopment and public use, reflecting a goal for community access and adaptive reuse.
• The pre-design work will help the city apply for more One Stop funding for construction once design milestones are reached.

Historical context and redevelopment potential

The historic complex was built in the mid-to-late 1800s to serve the Boston and Albany line after the Hoosac Tunnel opened. In the mid-1980s, the site became a park with restaurants, businesses, and a museum about the tunnel’s construction.

The current planning effort aims to balance preservation with safety and accessibility. North Adams wants to restore the historic buildings while making them usable for the community.

Preservation, safety, and community impact

• The Hoosac Tunnel museum in Building 4 remains outside the current scope. Ongoing coordination with state authorities is needed to align future work with museum operations.
• The exterior-focused planning supports a path to secure additional funding for construction. This enables a phased approach that minimizes disruption to existing programming.
• Successful implementation could revitalize a key heritage asset. It would enhance tourism, local employment opportunities, and educational programs tied to the region’s railroad and tunnel history.

 
Here is the source article for this story: North Adams moves to revive long-shuttered Heritage State Park buildings