Neal Announces $750,000 for City Hall Restoration / iBerkshires.com

LENOX, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal joined State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli this week to announce a $750,000 allocation to the Lenox City Hall restoration project. Pignatelli has also temporarily assumed the role of city manager.

This allocation was made possible by Congressional Direct Spending (CDS) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Neal included funding for this project in the fiscal year 2023 spending bill that was signed into law on December 29, 2022.

“City Hall occupies an important place in a community’s downtown, serving as the cornerstone of public discourse and the nexus of local governance. In a community like Lenox, with a history that predates the Revolutionary War, City Hall is an institution that generations of residents identify with,” Neal said. “I was pleased to partner with State Representative Smitty Pignatelli to advance the City Hall restoration project. This funding will help preserve and maintain this historic building, ensuring it can continue to serve Lenox residents for years to come.”

Built in 1901, the historic Lenox City Hall occupies a prominent position in downtown Lenox. A landmark building in the downtown historic district, the City Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Neal’s funding will support the restoration and repair of interior and exterior elements throughout the building, including:

• Repair and restoration of the deteriorated dome;
• Roof repair and exterior painting;
• Treatment of significant water damage in the rotunda;
• Install more modern and energy-efficient lighting fixtures;
• Replacement of the auditorium flooring and sound system; and
• Improvement of the access ramp for disabled people.

In accordance with guidance issued by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, members of Congress requested CDS funding for projects in their states for fiscal year 2023. CDS requests were limited to a limited number of federal funding streams, and only state and local governments, as well as eligible nonprofit entities, were authorized to receive CDS funding.

This project is one of 15 CDS projects submitted by Neal, totaling more than $20 million in investments throughout Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District.

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