A landmark building that stood vacant for two decades has been given a new purpose, anchoring a $51 million housing development that has brought 80 affordable apartments for older adults to Worcester’s Lincoln Square.
The Residences at Lincoln Square, developed by Boston-based WinnCompanies, combines the restoration of the former Worcester Boys Club building with construction of an adjoining five-story residential building. The project provides housing for adults 55 and older while preserving a piece of the city’s architectural and social history.
Gov. Maura Healey join Worcester officials, developers and financing partners Wednesday, Oct. 21, for a ceremony marking the completion of the development at 22 Grove St.
The project represents a substantial investment in a section of downtown Worcester that has seen renewed development interest, while addressing the city’s continuing need for affordable housing, particularly among older residents.
Of the development’s 80 apartments, 16 are located inside the renovated four-story Boys Club building, with the remaining 64 in the newly constructed five-story building. The two structures are connected by a single-story glass enclosure.
The historic building, which housed one of the nation’s first Boys Clubs beginning in 1930 and later served as Worcester Vocational High School, had been vacant for approximately 20 years before redevelopment began in 2024.
Rather than demolishing the structure, the developers incorporated it into the new housing complex, restoring portions of the building for residential and community use.
The former Boys Club gymnasium, located on the third floor, has been restored and will serve as the setting for Wednesday’s ceremony.
The development includes studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, along with an exercise room, multipurpose room, garage and outdoor patios.
The new residential building is also designed to meet stringent energy-efficiency standards established by the Passive House Institute U.S., commonly known as Phius.
The all-electric building incorporates high-performance construction techniques intended to reduce energy consumption and improve indoor comfort. The approach is particularly significant for affordable housing, where utility expenses can add to the financial pressures facing residents on fixed incomes.
The project also presented unusual engineering and construction challenges. The new five-story building extends partially over the Ernest A. Johnson Tunnel, requiring the development team to accommodate existing transportation infrastructure while adding housing in the densely developed Lincoln Square area.
Construction began in September 2024, with F.W. Madigan Company overseeing the work and Maugel DeStefano Architects leading the design.
The development was financed through a combination of public and private investments.
In September 2024, WinnCompanies announced that it had secured $35 million in financing from Rockland Trust for the project. Additional financing and support came from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, the city of Worcester, MassHousing, Massachusetts Housing Partnership, BlueHub and MassDevelopment.
The completed development’s $51 million cost reflects the scale of the undertaking, which combined historic rehabilitation, new construction and energy-efficient building systems.
Its location also places residents within walking distance of downtown businesses, public transportation, medical services and cultural attractions.
WinnCompanies already has footprints in the neighborhood, having developed and managed the adjacent Voke Lofts, another project that converted a former educational building into housing.
The Lincoln Square development adds to Worcester’s efforts to expand its housing supply by repurposing older institutional and commercial properties, particularly those in established neighborhoods where new construction opportunities can be limited.
The project also shows the effects of state financing and tax incentives in making affordable housing developments financially feasible, especially with the added expense of preserving historic buildings.
Healey is scheduled to speak at Wednesday’s ceremony alongside Mayor Joseph Petty, City Manager Eric Batista and representatives of the development’s construction and financing partners.
Other scheduled speakers include James Madigan, president and CEO of F.W. Madigan Company; Claudius Zorokong, senior vice president of Rockland Trust; Rachel Heller, executive director of Massachusetts Housing Partnership; Keli Savage, vice president and head of real estate and impact investments at CVS Health; Mark Teden, vice president of multifamily programs at MassHousing; and WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn.
The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in the restored gymnasium.
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