History
The Wright Building, a historic three-story structure in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was built in 1898 and is part of the Upper North Street Commercial District. Originally contributing to the expansion of Pittsfield's downtown, the building housed various retail and commercial tenants, including the long-running upstairs bowling alley Candle Lanes, which opened in 1914. After decades of underutilization and deferred maintenance, including condemnation alongside the adjacent Jim's House of Shoes, the building is now undergoing a full-scale historic redevelopment led by Allegrone Companies. The transformation will create 35 residential units with 20% designated as affordable housing and six ground-floor storefronts, while restoring the buildings historic facade. Supported by state housing grants to convert a rear alleyway into a pedestrian corridor, the project aligns with Pittsfield's broader goals of increasing housing availability, enhancing pedestrian connectivity, and revitalizing commercial activity in the downtown area.