Worcester Infill and Developments

Not sure what I hate more malls or amazon. Both are causing decay of mom n pop stores in urban downtown cores across the country, both are absolute trash uses of real estate within cities. I guess whichever one has more jobs probably gets the edge, no idea how many ppl work at these amazon warehouses but Im sure automation can replace them much easier than malls.

An amazon warehouse is better than an abandoned mall, but dense housing on a partially rebuilt street grid and ground floor retail would have been better. Ideally amazon warehouses should be located just outside cities with direct highway access on real estate that is industrial and otherwise crappy for urban housing. This isnt an ideal site, but it had more potential, oh well it is what it is.

I believe the rapid proliferation of the urban malls back in the 70's and 80's was the cause of the decay in Downtown / Main St stores. Now, online shopping, which is driving Amazon warehouses, is the driving force behind the decay of malls. Isn't appropriate that the Greendale Mall was razed to build an Amazon Dist warehouse?
 
It had a patio/wood deck

Ok, as I thought, thanks.

FWIW, this isn't the end of Shrewsbury St people want to hang out on; it's loud and auto-centric and Belmont St becoming more of a highway only exacerbates this. I'm not a huge fan of what they plan to build, but it makes sense.
 
Ok, as I thought, thanks.

FWIW, this isn't the end of Shrewsbury St people want to hang out on; it's loud and auto-centric and Belmont St becoming more of a highway only exacerbates this. I'm not a huge fan of what they plan to build, but it makes sense.

It's never going to become an end to hangout with development like this. Besides the reactory is being built next door
 
Proposal before the Planning Board for replacing a parking lot and a restaurant at 631 Franklin Street with 24 apartments according the Worcester Business Journal.

Worcester developer to demolish Franklin Street restaurant, construct 24 apartments

By Katherine Hamilton

A Worcester developer has plans to demolish a Franklin Street restaurant and redevelop the site into a 24-unit apartment complex, according to a proposal submitted to the Worcester Planning Board.

Michael Ermani of Worcester-based Premier Investment Properties LLC confirmed Friday he is planning to construct apartments at 631 Franklin St., assuming the property sale is complete, as it has not yet closed.

Chioda’s Trattoria, a 13-year-old Italian restaurant, is the tenant at the property. Co-owner Steve Chioda said he had not yet been notified of the demolition plans and is unsure what it would mean for the restaurant’s future.

Ermani’s proposal to the planning board calls for full demolition of the existing 1,624-square-foot restaurant and construction of an 8,749-square-foot low-rise apartment building with off-street parking. The units will be market-rate.

The property is owned by John and Theresa Travaglio, the owners of Pepe's Italian Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street, according to the proposal. Premier Investment Properties has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the current owners, but it will not close until after the planning board approves the project, Ermani said.

FULL ARTICLE

SITE PLAN

ARCHITECTURAL PLANS

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I saw they were taking the metal cladding off the building housing The Pie Store. Looks like this is what they are turning that building into as part of the former Table Talk developments. it has some nice features under the cladding

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About time. Ruth's Chris is some two years behind schedule. They announced they would open a Worcester location back in 2019 with a projected opening in 2020.
 
About time. Ruth's Chris is some two years behind schedule. They announced they would open a Worcester location back in 2019 with a projected opening in 2020.

They stopped construction completely during Covid and weren't even sure they wanted to open another spot for a while
 
A Boston developer purchased a factory building from 1866 on 300 Southbridge Street with plans to convert it into 21 apartments. It’s on the register of historical buildings so a waiver by the historical commission was required to start construction.
It was mostly abandoned with some part being used as a community center until recently.
This is right next to the CSX elevated rail and neighbors with Miss Worcester Diner and Hurricane Betty.

I took a few screen grabs from the meeting, I’ll update it with higher quality photos once they are published.

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Historical photo:
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