Hotel Downstreet has officially opened as a hospitality hot spot in the heart of downtown North Adams, MA. The hotel will breathe new life into a historic cultural destination, invigorating the arts community that has served generations of visitors over the years. A riff on local lingo, the Downstreet name refers to the downtown movement on the beloved Main St. that shuttles travelers across town.
The property has been transformed by independent hospitality management firm, Main Street Hospitality, which also owns and operates the nearby hotel, Porches Inn. With support from real-estate firm, Peregrine Group, Hotel Downstreet introduces boutique lodging options to the quaint town of North Adams. Main Street Hospitality will leverage its understanding of the area to better serve guests who seek an affordable stay with style, smarts and a no-fuss approach to modern hospitality.
Connection to, and interaction with art drives the guest experience at Hotel Downstreet, inspiring visitors while celebrating the local community. The art collection at Downstreet positions the hotel as an artistic destination while contributing to the revitalization of the North Adams downtown district.
“We redesigned Hotel Downstreet with the intention of celebrating the vibrant, curious and charismatic spirit that defines North Adams,” said Sarah Eustis, founder, Main Street Hospitality. “Our mission has always been to inspire guests to connect in truly meaningful ways and there is no better destination to engage with creatives in an approachable setting than Hotel Downstreet.”
Accommodations and design
Hotel Downstreet offers 90 guestrooms. In-room amenities include a microwave, mini fridge and workstations, while other on-site amenities include an indoor pool and on-site laundry. An inviting lobby provides a meeting space for guests and visitors to gather for coffee. Downstreet strives for guests to feel right at home during their stay with approachable sophistication and free-spirited charisma.
At Downstreet, a highly curated art collection is displayed across all areas of the hotel, from guestrooms to public and interior spaces, showcasing the work of local and internationally renowned artists ranging from Barbara Prey and Cory Feder to Kento Iida, Stephen Hannock, Noah Post and Anthony Chase. Upon arrival, guests are greeted in the Downstreet lobby with a classic North Adams landscape mural created by Eric Forstmann. Each hallway is playfully themed—text art, op art, abstract, landscape and figure.
The Studios at Downstreet, located directly off the lobby, are large and open spaces for ongoing collaborations with artists, galleries and nearby institutions that can also double as creative gathering and event spaces. Current displays include Jane Eckert Fine Art and Jarvis Rockwell.
Cultural landscape
Best known as the home of the largest contemporary art museum in the U.S., MASS MoCA, North Adams is a burgeoning hot spot for creatives who flock to the town for its contemporary art galleries and lively music scene. The quaint and walkable Main St. exudes the charm of a classic New England mill town, peppered with mom-and-pop restaurants and breweries. One of the tallest peaks in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock, sits in the backyard of North Adams leaving no shortage of the great outdoors for adventure seekers looking to explore, no matter the season.
As community engagement is at the forefront of Hotel Downstreet, The Downstreet arts residency provides an artist with temporary housing, a meal allowance and free studio during their tenure. Educational and children’s programming are present for schools and Boys and Girls Club.
Photography: Corey Favino
