I’ve got a habit of trying to spin any conversation into a conversation about Worcester, being one of those ‘all roads lead to Worcester’ types. But it’s even more fun when someone else does the heavy lifting for you. So how exactly could an Inc. Magazine article about Boston Super Chef Barbara Lynch, turn into a Worcester tale?
Two years ago, a partner in Berkeley Investments was having dinner at No. 9, and he asked if I would be interested in opening a restaurant in an old wool warehouse his company owned. They were putting in 96 condos and had 16,000 square feet of commercial space. They gave me such a great deal, I would have been crazy not to take it.
Those cheating whores.
The project she’s referring to is FP3 and if anything it stands as proof that Berkley Investments properties continue to carry a ton of potential. But where are the “great deals” being offered at City Square? The last anyone has heard of City Sq getting off the ground looks something like this:
Under the amended development agreement Berkeley has with the city for CitySquare, it needs to secure “lock-in leases” for 135,000 square feet of rentable commercial space in a newly constructed building known as Building H. The development agreement stipulates that state funds for the demolition of the mall and part of the parking garage cannot be released until Berkeley meets that benchmark.
I’m in no way a redovelopment expert, but my keen sense of reality says a few “great deals” could probably help in filling those 135,000 square feet. And I can’t be the only one who could handle a world class chef or two on the common.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
it may make sense to some but the reality is that the project as it sits pays the mortgage and bills plus all the tax bennies that come with it and perhaps even some cash flow..it makes no sense for Young Park to have a fire sale cause the City of Worcester has placed all it’s cards in his hands..by nature he looks to be a developer who likes bringing back dinosaurs so this project fits his MO..but we are in bed with a player and he will play when a legit tenant comes along..and not before.
This city seems to be only attractive to no-lo income housing developers from what I can see..check out the new project at May & Main….wouldn’t it be nice if a developer was building this kind of housing for young professionals like yerself..or even the project at Main & Madison..
Perhaps Young Park has given up on the project who knows..from the level of professionalism that is coming from some of our leadahs it would not shock me
As I stated on mi on own blog..it is very strange how disconnected our leadahs are with the big players in this city..and not just Young Park!
by breaking the space up Brendan..he possibly hurts his goal of one large tenant that he may be looking to land..my family owns some comercial real estate and breaking up space is the last option.
we may find that UNUM is not looking for a long term lease..who knows what is going on behind the scenes..
I am starting to really question whether City Square is going to be a reality..I am not seeing any noticeable shift in the urban population..seems to still be moving towards a population pretty much reliant on public assistance..the west side has it’s middle class and up turnover but no significant change in the rest of the urban corridors..this is going to be a problem for a project like City Square..finding baby boomers looking to move back to the urban environment like is happening in many other urban environments is going to be difficult with so much grime so close by..this fight over UNUM an existing tenant is disturbing in that we have no one else looking at the downtown that we know of..it is like two guys fighting over the only gal in town…
I’d be curious if anyone else is seeing a shift in population within their area of the urban core..4Rilla over in Main South, Gabe downtown???
I see the city working harder-cleaner streets, a hammer on problem properties, better patrols by the WPD which is the first step..but every new project my way is being built for no-lo income housing or any three deckah rehabs are immediately occupied by Sexy 8 recipients..not seeing in any significant numbers of more folks like 4Rilla, Gabe or me to be quite honest..this city is realy going to need a bigger invasion of folks willing to take a chance before you see baby boomahs and like kind move into the downtown to buy high end units..in my opinion I see a City Square 10+ years away..there is still just to much poverty by choice in this city..to many more who look at Worcester as a cushion instead of a place to make it!
Again, I see the changes and feel I am a wee bit part of it from where I live..I have just become a realist that this is a very long process and a lot longer than most realize…you need to live within the urban core and be part in some way to realize how few inches forward we have moved forward considering the amout of effort put in from many
Blaming Young Park for the failures of our incompetent City Government is pointless and deceptive. Believe me, if the CitySquare deal was worth the balloons it was printed on then Park would be all over the project. The whole deal was queered by the incompetence, corruption and ignorance of Worcester Government.
Turn the whole thing into a holding pen for illegals and it’ll actually be worth keeping up. Otherwise, tear it down and acknowledge that unless it will profit the dolts in Office it’s destined to be a vacant lot.
Unfortunately I have not seen much of a change in my area as far as the type of folks moving in. There is most definitely a different type of person downtown living in the Mayo properties at least but it is mostly college age kids who are mostly transient and still only a slight step up from the low income folks.
It looks like Mayo might rehab the two vacant buildings on Portland St instead of tearing them down as there have been some slight facade improvements over the past couple weeks. If they fill those buildings and possibly the floors above the Hookah Hot Spot that will make 12 residential buildings in the Federal Sq neighborhood 3 of which are condominiums.
Anyone know how to go about starting a neighborhood association?
that was one of the questions one knows the answer to Gabe…it’s the great whispah in this city and I don’t mean Whispah Drive…the City of Worceser seems to think that all it will take is some fancy chefs, a few hot looking pubs and a fancy downtown theatre…great that we are creating all these nice new venues for folks from the west side and out of town to visit but when does the effort begin to make the urban core a place where folks with jobs, educations and a desire to be even just okay citizens begin???
Gabe…I was part of the trio that started the Chandler Business Association
http://www.chandlerstreetbusiness.com/
We should hook up for a beer sometime..I can give you some pointahs
Some good news down my way..Assumpion College moving into the MLK Business Empowerment Center, Living Earth has a full restaurant and bar coming in in two weeks..going to be upscale-mos happpy about this:>) The CBA has been mucho involved in the Assumption College deal!
Take a walk in front of City Hall and across the street from it, anywhere within 20 yards of Harrington Square. Walk through those areas at least once or twice you will be asked for change or someone will try to sell you a hot watch or something.
An obviously mentally challenged woman shit her skirt in Dunkin Donuts the other day and it was stepped on by customers as it smeared it’s way out onto Front and Main Streets.
That says it all.