Empty Store Fronts, Housing Crisis, and The Berkshire Mall

Corey Bishop is one-half of Bishop West Real Estate, a full-service real estate company based in Berkshire County. In this episode, we focus on vacant retail and commercial spaces in Pittsfield and the Berkshires. Why do investors and developers like Allegrone, David Carver, and Mill Town, the ones actually filling much-needed space, catch flack on social media? We hear about a housing crisis constantly, but Pittsfield has actually lost population over the last 40 years. So where did all that available space go? We also get into Massachusetts' strict squatters' laws and what they mean for property owners. Also, The Berkshire Mall has a plan for redevelopment pending change to the Baker Hill Road District. The proposal includes a plan for two major anchor stores in addition to the standing Target. Will this ever happen?