The intermodal center is on the corner of Columbus and North. Transportation is tricky, very few ubers, you need to call for a cab, so have those numbers ready unless you have secured a ride and buses do not run at night, and daytime they run like once an hour. They originate from the intermodal center, so ask for the bus going to upper North. It is not really walkable to St Charles, especially in winter. Do expect to see homeless people nearby, you are at the Center of Downtown. If it is dark, stay closer to North St rather than walk too far down Columbus. There is a huge fire station a block away and the area is very well lit.

St Charles is North and in a safe area, though it is a mixed use neighborhood, residential and commercial. Harry's supermarket is a block away. I would avoid walking too far from there alone especially on Wahconah St much after dark. It is not so much unsafe but the design of the area is unnerving and there is not a lot of traffic at night. I would not have hestitation walking around in daytime there, it is just very isolated at night.

Also the area around St. Charles is hilly even for Pittsfield and we have had snow so walk carefully.

Hope you have fun. Transportation without a car is really your biggest concern.