Worcester’s housing landscape continues to change, with a major downtown redevelopment celebrating its opening and three more residential projects moving through the city’s approval process.
The conversion of the former Fallon Health offices into nearly 200 apartments, alongside 22 affordable condominiums, marks a milestone for downtown housing. Meanwhile, proposals for another 323 apartments near Indian Lake, Coes Pond and Lincoln Plaza are advancing through the city’s development boards.
More than 200 units of new housing unveiled in downtown Worcester
Local and state leaders gathered in Worcester on Oct. 27 to officially cut the ribbon on more than 200 units of new downtown housing.
The event highlighted the opening of Altitude Worcester, a $73 million redevelopment project by Boston-based developer Synergy, which converted the former Fallon Health offices at One Chestnut Place into an 11-story tower of 198 market-rate apartments.
Next door at Two Chestnut Place, the development of 22 affordable condominium units gives the city its first new downtown homeownership opportunity in more than a decade.
A collaboration of public and private partners, Altitude has been described as the largest office-to-housing conversion in Massachusetts. The building features 74 studio units, 84 one-bedroom apartments and 40 two-bedroom apartments. Units range in size from 404 to 1,211 square feet. Altitude’s first tenants moved in at the beginning of September.
The property manager for Altitude is Boston-based Charlesgate. Amenities include a rooftop deck, swimming pool, fitness center, reservable dining room, coworking space, underground parking and a pet spa.
Financing for the project included a Community Conversion Tax Credit from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, along with a 15-year tax incentive from the city of Worcester.
Redevelopment of former Mercy Centre site clears more hurdles
The Worcester City Council’s Standing Committee on Economic Development voted unanimously to recommend a proposed zoning change for a long-vacant property at 25 West Chester St., near Indian Lake, at its Oct. 27 meeting.
The vote supports changing the zoning of the 16-acre site from RS-7 to RL-7, clearing a path toward multifamily development on the parcel, which is owned by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester.
Vacant for several years, the existing building off West Chester Street was most recently used as the Mercy Centre, a school for adults with developmental disabilities operated by Catholic Charities of Worcester County. The nonprofit moved its headquarters and Mercy Centre to West Boylston in 2025.
Working with CMK Development Partners of New Bedford, the property owner plans to convert and redevelop the deteriorating building into 40 apartments.
“It is a dilapidated site. It’s been underutilized for years,” said Joshua Lee Smith, an attorney with Bowditch & Dewey who represents CMK.
The planning board previously endorsed the zoning change from RS-7 to RL-7 on Aug. 26.
The proposed zoning change now goes to the full city council for approval. If approved, the project would likely require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals and site plan review by the Planning Board.
Reservoir Point project to add 255 apartments on Mill Street
A seven-building development offering 255 multifamily units is planned along Coes Pond at 195 Mill St., the long-vacant site of a former supermarket.
Mill LLC heads to the Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 9 seeking a special permit and variances for the residential development.
Plans call for three five-story buildings and four four-story buildings, along with 387 parking spaces.
Boylston developer plans 28-unit apartment complex near Lincoln Plaza
Pappas Prime Properties LLC of Boylston has submitted plans to the Worcester Planning Board for a five-story, 28-unit apartment development at 20-22 Goldthwaite Road, near Lincoln Plaza.
A definitive site plan for the project will go before the Planning Board at its Nov. 18 meeting. The development would include four studios, eight one-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedroom apartments and eight three-bedroom apartments.
The site currently contains a one-and-a-half-story single-family home and a two-and-a-half-story three-family home. The single-family home would be demolished to make way for the project, while the three-family home would remain on the property.
About Building Worcester: Building Worcester is The Worcester Guardian’s weekly roundup of business, development and economic news from across the city, tracking major projects, new businesses, public meetings, commercial real estate and the decisions shaping Worcester’s future.
Have a tip about a new business, development project or commercial property? Email Executive Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org or reporter Mike Vigneux at MikeVigs@gmail.com.
