From the Office of Senator Kerry

Tuesday, April 8, 2003

WASHINGTON – Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry and Congressman John W. Olver today announced that the city of North Adams, in partnership with MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), has been awarded a highly competitive Section 108 loan from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The $3.75 million loan, combined with a previously approved HUD grant of $2 million, will help to finance a major economic development project on the MASS MoCA campus, rehabilitating two large vacant properties for commercial office space as part of the museum’s Phase II expansion.

“This grant will be an enormous help to the city’s efforts to redevelop the downtown area,” Senator Kennedy said. “As MoCA continues to grow, it will help create jobs and a better quality of life for all those living in the area.”

“Mass MoCA is not only a tremendous cultural treasure of Berkshire County, it is -- as this funding indicates -- a vital economic engine as well,” Senator Kerry said. “The continued growth of this project will mean more good jobs and smart development to go hand-in-hand with this great museum. I applaud the hard hands-on work by Mayor John Barrett and Executive Director Joe Thompson that has made this facility a national model.”

Congressman Olver said, “North Adams’ economic redevelopment efforts have been very effective and deserve this critical support from the federal government. This award underscores MASS MoCA’s accomplishments to date and provides key financing for its next phase of revitalization and job creation. I look forward to continuing to help with this and other economic development projects in northern Berkshire County and throughout the first Congressional district.”

Separately funded demolition work has already taken place on one of the properties, known as Building 13, a prominent eyesore on the west side of the museum’s main Marshall Street parking lot. Renovation of Building 13 will begin shortly, with an initial major tenant already signed. Beginning January 1, 2004, the MASS MoCA campus will welcome Donovan & O’Connor LLP, a law firm with 35 employees including 16 full-time attorneys. The firm will occupy the 11,000-square-foot third floor of Building 13. The first and second floors will also be renovated and offered for lease to other commercial tenants, along with the 44,000-square-foot former Sprague R&D Lab at 96 Marshall Street, directly across the street from MASS MoCA’s main gate.

North Adams Mayor and MASS MoCA Commission Chairman John Barrett III said, “By providing high-caliber space and attracting lead tenants of the reputation of Donovan & O’Connor, we continue to add density and activity across the entire downtown business district. We appreciate the support of our congressional delegation, state representatives, and the staff of HUD and the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development who have helped to make the project a reality.”

Joseph Thompson, director of MASS MoCA, said, “This is good news both for the region and for the museum. It allows us to get on with our work of creating jobs and revitalizing a distressed neighborhood at a time when a recalcitrant economy adds importance to that effort, and it allows us to generate future lease income to help sustain MASS MoCA’s exciting roster of cultural and educational programs.”

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