Worcester Infill and Developments

stick n move said:
Looking into this a bit is this the first new inventory of public housing in the state in decades? Usually they demolish old buildings and replace them with new ones, but it seems that this was just an abandoned lot before that now has new public housing on it. If so this is good to see.
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This is 30-60% AMI housing by a community group, not Worcester Housing Authority. But WHA has a micro housing apartment building for the chronically unhoused in the works

www.telegram.com

Central Mass. by the Numbers

A look at local businesses and projects over the past week.
www.telegram.com
 
It appears that the days of the Denholm department store building on Main Street are numbered. The redevelopment authority bought the building for $3 million after it was without power for weeks due to deferred maintenance. It was housing offices of various non profit organizations. An RFP favors demolition and redevelopment as housing/mixed use.

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In its heyday:
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What is striking in those preceding pics is the mass of people on Main St. Of course, that was before urban sprawl and malls. Today, downtown Worcester is void of people with the possible exception of restaurant activity around Franklin and Front streets.
 
I liked the older version of Denholm's. It had a German Modernist vibe style.

It is striking to see so many people back then shopping on Main Street. It was before my time as my first memories start in the early 1980's when I attended college in the city. We however had an active Worcester Center Galleria mall with departments stores (JM and Filene's) and several cinema options downtown back then. These sadly exist no where within in the borders of the entire city of Worcester these days.
 
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Just looked up Denholm & McKay. According to Wikipedia, the store's origins dated back to 1870. The Main Street building was once a Victorian style structure from 1882. Its facade was replaced in 1954 with a modern style. It was at one time the largest store of its kind in New England outside Boston and Providence and was long considered the city's premier shopping destination. Worcester's first escalator was installed there in 1963. The store was eventually merged with Gladding's of Providence in 1969 with the entire chain going out of business a few years later in 1973. Denholm's once also had a second location at the Auburn Mall from 1971 to 1973.



Original 1882 facade
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If the underlying building is from 1882, that may limit any adaptive reuse.
 
I think adaptive reuse may be cost prohibitive anyways due to all the deferred maintenance.
The RFP is looking for 125 residential units.

My addition to the RFP: The original facade must be reconstructed for any new building ;)
 
cubalibre said:
I think adaptive reuse may be cost prohibitive anyways due to all the deferred maintenance.
The RFP is looking for 125 residential units.

My addition to the RFP: The original facade must be reconstructed for any new building ;)
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They are looking for residential or a commercial building that will supply a lot of full time jobs
 
Lab building for Phase III of gateway park. it will have a retail/active use space

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It looks like a sketch of the 10 Prospect lab in Union Square Somerville.
 
More on the Gateway Park Phase III building to be located at Prescott and Salisbury Streets. Some of the building will be leased by WPI which already has several other academic, research, and dormitory spaces in the park.

www.wbjournal.com

Developer proposes five-story lab building in next phase of WPI’s Gateway Park

A Holyoke developer has proposed Gateway Park III, a five-story, 125,000-square-foot laboratory and office building in Worcester.
www.wbjournal.com www.wbjournal.com
 
WormtownNative said:
Took a little under three years, but 383 Shrewsbury Street has been approved by the Planning Board. Can't say it's particularly inspiring from the renders (really wish they kept the "General Machine Screw Products" painted signage on it), but the project is officially named "The Railroad Lofts." Floor plans at the link above start on page 26.

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A few photos of the 383 Shrewsbury Street project. (The old General Machine Screw Products building)



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In addition to the renovation at 33 Hermon above, 17 Hermon Street right next door is proposed to be converted into apartments.

www.wbjournal.com

Worcester developer proposes redevelopment of historic Taylor and Farley building

Worcester’s GoVenture Capital Group is proposing to transform the former site of Taylor and Farley Organ Co. at 17 Hermon St. in Worcester’s Main South neighborhood into 36 apartments.
www.wbjournal.com www.wbjournal.com

It used to be a Reed Organ manufacturing site back in the day

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