Imagine owning a stunning piece of art while making a profound difference in our community. We are thrilled to announce that artists Jeff Nestel-Patt (photographer, www.jeffnpphotography.com ) and Steven Landes (glass artist) are hosting an art raffle to benefit Construct at their art show, “Pixels and Glass” at the Art on Main Gallery at 38 Main Street in West Stockbridge from July 2nd through 26th. Every ticket you purchase gives you the chance to win a beautiful piece of artwork and support Construct.
Gallery exhibition opening reception: July 4th, 2pm – 4pm
Gallery Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am – 4pm
There will be two winners selected:
Winner #1 will receive a signed, mounted and matted limited edition, archival inkjet photograph by artist Jeff Nestel-Patt
8” x 12” (approximate dimensions depending upon the composition of the selected photograph). Matted size approximately 14” x 18”.
Winner will be able to select the photograph of their choice from the artists photographs at the “Pixels and Glass” exhibition at the Art on Main Gallery in July 2026. Artist will provide the winner with a limited edition, signed, mounted and matted archival inkjet photograph of the selected image in the size specified above.
Winner # 2 will receive a glass sculpture by artist Steven Landes
Winner will receive the “Wavelength #1” sculpture from the “Pixels and Glass” exhibition at the Art on Main Gallery in July 2026.
How It Works:
Tickets: $25 each or 3 for $65
Deadline: The winning ticket will be drawn at the close of the show at the Art on Main Gallery on July 26th, 2026, at 4 pm. You do not have to be present to win. Winners will be notified via email if they are not present at the time of the drawing.
Where to Buy: Raffle tickets may be purchased only at the “Pixels and Glass” exhibition at the Art on Main Gallery at 38 Main Street in West Stockbridge between July 2nd and 26th.
Your support transforms lives. Thank you for your generosity!
*Application process is closed as of May 1. Drawing will be held in mid May.
Construct, in partnership with the Town of Becket, is excited to announce a rare opportunity for first-time homebuyers! A newly set modular two-bedroom home on 0.28 acres in Becket, MA, is available for purchase at $230,000 through a lottery system. This opportunity is exclusively for eligible buyers earning 80% or less of the area median income (AMI).
About the Home
2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home with lake rights to Shaw Pond
Unfinished upper level with potential for an additional bedroom and bathroom
Must apply and qualify for the FHL Bank Equity Builder Program Loan
Property must be used as principal residence
Household income must not exceed these maximum allowable gross income limits, per household size:
Banks that offer the FHL Bank First Time Homebuyer Equity Builder Program:
Adams Community Bank
Berkshire Bank
Greylock Federal Credit Union
Lee Bank
Pittsfield Co-Operative Bank
Why This Matters
With the median home price in Becket rising to $352,100 (Berkshire Realtors Market Watch 2024), affordable homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many. Thanks to the support of Becket’s Community Preservation Committee and the state’s Rural and Small Town Grant Program, this initiative will help a local family achieve the dream of owning a home.
Informational Sessions
Learn more about the process and requirements at our Zoom info sessions on March 11th and March 25th. Registration is required.
As we come upon Thanksgiving, the winter holidays, and the new year, we invite you to reflect upon the support you may need —now, or in the near future—or the ways in which you can help your neighbors.
There are times when we need help. And there are times when we are doing well and in the position to offer support to others. The line between the two is very thin.
We’re grateful to our generous and caring Southern Berkshires community. With your help, in the last year Construct has been able to:
Provide over 90 affordable housing options across the southern Berkshires. Yet, we have over 425 households still on our waiting list.
Provide unhoused individuals with shelter, including 100 motel stays, to keep them safe, warm and close to employment, healthcare, and support services during the frigid winter months. Yet, the numbers of people in need of this kind of support keep rising.
Help over 1,200 households find and navigate the resources designed to support them. These resources, while helpful, are often very daunting and confusing, especially for the people who need them the most.
At this time of year, we look back with gratitude and forward with anticipation. We’re proud of our community that makes the Southern Berkshires a beautiful place to call home. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our neighbors, and for supporting affordable housing initiatives for even the most vulnerable among us.
If you are in need of assistance, we are here. To help people get back on their feet and stabilize financially, we offer rental assistanceand micro loans in times of crisis, along with emergency motel stays when other options are not available. If you are in need of financial or emergency assistance, contact us here:
Architectural Auction Fundraiser: Cassilis Farm Gilded Age Estate
Antique House Parts Start Bidding September 23rd
We’re excited to announce a partnership with Green Circle Auctions to auction off architectural and historical items from the iconic 1890s Gilded Age mansion, Cassilis Farm, before interior renovations commence. Proceeds from the auction will directly support the mansion’s transformation into eleven affordable housing units, providing much-needed homes for Berkshire families and workers.
Cassilis Farm, a grand 11,000-square-foot estate set on 20 picturesque acres in New Marlborough, MA, is being reimagined to offer safe, energy-efficient housing for the local community. While the exterior will remain true to its historic roots, the interior must undergo extensive renovations to meet modern safety and efficiency standards. This transformation is part of Construct’s broader mission to address the critical shortage of affordable housing in the Southern Berkshire region.
“This event marks a significant milestone in Construct’s ongoing efforts to meet the affordable housing needs of the Berkshires,” said Jane Ralph, Executive Director at Construct. “Our partnership with Green Circle Auctions allows us to preserve the legacy of Cassilis Farm while supporting a sustainable, community-centered approach to its revitalization.”
The auction offers a rare opportunity for buyers to acquire original architectural pieces from this storied mansion, including a grand wood-paneled ballroom, antique stained glass windows, ornate fireplaces and surrounds, original double-hung windows with antique wavy glass, dutch doors and multi-lite exterior doors, antique bathroom fixtures, and much more. The mansion, once famous for breeding award-winning ponies and dogs, was also a cultural hub during the 1970s Fluxus art movement, hosting notable visitors such as John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Buyers are responsible for providing their own tools, hardware, and labor to remove purchased items. Special considerations for item removal will be offered on-site. Green Circle Auctions, specialists in architectural salvage, are committed to sustainability through the reuse and renewal of building materials, helping to keep them out of landfills.
For more information about the auction, please visit GreenCircleAuctions.com or contact Maria and Greg Stanton at (203) 667-1747 or hello@greencircleauctions.com.
Follow us on Instagram @GreenCircleAuctions and @construct_gb for updates!
The call went out across Berkshire County for volunteers to staff the Construct Designer Showhouse at Cassilis Farm during June, and the response was nothing short of inspiring. Over 100 neighbors from every town in the South Berkshires answered the call, cheerfully greeting and guiding visitors at the Showhouse every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June—rain, shine, or heat!
A big shout out to The Jewish Women’s Foundation for staffing three of the six shifts on the (very sticky!) final weekend of the Showhouse, and to Christ Trinity Church for covering the fi rst Saturday morning when we were still finding our footing. Kudos also to the townspeople of New Marlborough, who came out in large numbers every weekend to contribute their time and energy to this project.
We hope that each volunteer feels a sense of pride every time they pass this big yellow house and see the families who will be welcomed home to the property sometime in 2026. The dedication of these volunteers embodies Construct’s vision of building community and strengthening the housing ecosystem in South Berkshire County.
Photos from top left: Jane Jacobs and Joan Ury, Estelle Bogdonoff andJudi Goodman, Designer Showcase committee co-chairs Laura Jordahl andHinda Bodinger, Paula Hatch, New Marlborough resident and volunteer.
At Construct, we recognize the hurdles of achieving homeownership in South Berkshire County. We are thankful for the crucial role played by State Representative Smitty Pignatelli in securing a $100,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Construct. Grant funds assist prospective first-time home buyers. We are pleased to announce that it has helped ten families in realizing their dream of homeownership.
Our “Final Mile” grant was designed to make a big impact by covering a portion of closing costs and down payment expenses. However, distributing these funds wasn’t without its challenges. The housing market in South Berkshire County is highly competitive, with property prices often exceeding the budgets of income-eligible buyers. This meant that, while the grant was aimed at those most in need (households with an income not exceeding 100% of the Area Median Income), the pool of potential beneficiaries was somewhat limited.
In response, we made a strategic shift. Initially, we offered smaller grants of $2,500, but it quickly became clear that a more substantial financial boost was needed. So, we increased the grant amount to $15,000, providing more robust support for first-time homebuyers. This change proved beneficial, enabling those who found affordable properties to achieve homeownership.
By increasing the grant amount and focusing on providing more support, Construct showed its commitment to helping first-time homebuyers overcome financial hurdles. The “Final Mile” grant was vital in stabilizing our communities, allowing more families to invest in their futures. We’re incredibly proud to have been part of these families’ journeys to homeownership.
Though the Final Mile funding has been exhausted, we’re optimistic about the future and eager to continue our mission of assisting South Berkshire County community members in finding safe and affordable housing. Stay tuned for more updates and initiatives from Construct!
If you are familiar with the Lenox town center loop, you most likely have seen Andrea Bruce walking it. Or, maybe, even caught her paintings on display at a local gallery. Having called Lenox home for the past half-century, Andrea has undeniably carved out her niche within the community. However, what many may not realize is that Andrea also wears the hat of a. seasoned local landlord. Construct delved into Andrea’s experiences to uncover the realities of being a small scale landlord in south Berkshire County.
Q: What is the hardest thing about being a landlord?
A: The hardest aspect for me is maintaining a reliable income from the property to cover my mortgage. While some tenants are fantastic, taking care of the space and paying rent punctually, others can be challenging. As my lawyer once told me, “tenants have all the rights,” which can make certain situations very difficult. Nonetheless, I’ve found that most people are wonderful, and I’ve even forged lasting friendships through my landlord-tenant relationships.
Q: Do you have other sources of income?
A: Yes, I receive Social Security, and I also operate a small one-room Airbnb from my home. I’m an artist. These additional sources of income contribute significantly to my ability to sustain myself financially as a single, retired woman.
Q: What trends in renting have you noticed over the past few years?
A: There has been a notable influx of people moving into Berkshire County, and developers have capitalized on this trend. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed friends being displaced from their long-term apartments due to buildings being purchased by investors who subsequently raise rents or convert the spaces into Airbnb.
Q: Do you feel that your decision to keep rents reasonable has encouraged good renters to stay long-term?
A: Absolutely. I deliberately keep the rent on the lower side because I don’t believe in overcharging tenants. This approach has attracted many exceptional individuals over the years who have become long-term renters. Ultimately, my goal is to continue living comfortably in my house while treating my tenants fairly. I’m going on 30 years now, so I must be doing something right!
Join us for a FAIR HOUSING TRAINING on May 17th presented by Ellen T. Maxon, JD.
Who is protected?
What types of housing are covered?
What is prohibited?
Throughout her career, Ellen T. Maxon, Retired Civil Rights Investigator & Vermont Human Rights Commission, has investigated allegations of discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment. She continues to provide fair housing and implicit bias training.
Please join us:
Friday, May 17th 11:30 am-1:30 pm
at
Construct Center for Affordable Housing 316 State Road, Great Barrington, MA
Feel free to bring a bag lunch.
Space is limited to 15 participants. There will be a waitlist and additional opportunities for this training depending on interest.
To those who attended “Cocktails and Conversations” at Racebrook Lodge (and those unable to make it) – WOW! What a night!
Over 60 people attended the gathering, sharing stories of how housing instability has impacted them and offering ideas on addressing the crisis. Because of the success of last night, we plan to do more community gatherings such as these.
But in the meantime, we ask that you remain active and engaged! Remember: Housing is the single best investment we can make for the future of our communities.
If you’d like to volunteer for Construct or join one of our committees – let us know. And as always, we welcome and are grateful for your donations – it takes a village!
Construct’s Communications Director Testifies at State House
From the Berkshire Eagle, 10.12.23
Leigh Davis testified on October 11th at the State House about the lack of available and affordable housing in the Berkshires, and a proposal for a real estate transfer fee that would provide a critical tool for municipalities to help fund affordable housing initiatives.
“ Davis, who also works for a nonprofit (Construct) that creates affordable housing, told the Joint Committee on Revenue that Great Barrington’s housing is locked up. She said second homeowners are “pushing residents out”; and that all-cash home sales made up about half of all sales in 2022. There aren’t any available motel rooms for shelter, either, she added.
“We’re doing as much as we can but we just lack the resources,” Davis said. “The struggle is real.”
