WORCESTER—Worcester officials and community leaders broke ground on a project that aims to redefine public housing in the city.
The Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) and Trinity Financial recently celebrated the start of Phase 2 of the Curtis Apartments redevelopment, highlighted by construction of the Economic Opportunity Center (EOC). The four-story, mixed-use building will serve as a hub for residents, offering education, workforce development, housing, and community programming all in one space.
Governor Maura Healey praised the project as “exactly the kind of forward-thinking investment our administration is proud to support,” according to the announcement. She noted that combining affordable housing with a library branch, childcare, and job training creates “opportunities that go far beyond bricks and mortar.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll echoed the sentiment, calling the EOC “a game-changer for residents” and “another powerful example of how public-private partnerships can create lasting change for residents.”
Massachusetts housing secretary Ed Augustus, a Worcester native and former city manager, said the project shows how public housing can shed its stigma. “Curtis Apartments is an example for the state and the country of what public housing can be: vibrant, accessible, and indistinguishable from market-rate homes,” Augustus said in the release.
Phase 2 includes 150 new apartments built to Passive House energy standards for efficiency and comfort, with construction set to begin this winter. The EOC itself will house WHA staff offices, community spaces, and a new branch of the Worcester Public Library, with the upper floors offering 24 mixed-income apartments. Completion is expected in about 20 months.
For Joseph P. Carlson, chair of the WHA Board of Commissioners, the redevelopment carries personal meaning. “This project has been bittersweet for me and my family, because I grew up in Curtis Apartments,” Carlson said. “Seeing those first buildings come down put a lump in my throat, but what is rising in their place is something we all can be proud of.”
WHA CEO Alex Corrales described the EOC as a symbol of empowerment. “As someone who grew up in public housing, I can’t stress enough how critically important it is to make sure our residents feel like anything is possible,” Corrales said. “This entire project is about new possibilities, empowerment, and instilling a new sense of pride.”
Michael Lozano of Trinity Financial highlighted the collaboration driving the project forward. “The Economic Opportunity Center demonstrates what’s possible when strong partnerships invest not only in housing, but also in the community resources that help neighborhoods thrive,” he said.
The Curtis Apartments redevelopment is unfolding in four phases. When complete, it will replace the aging 1950s-era complex with 527 modern, energy-efficient apartments. Phase 1, already underway, is set to deliver two new mid-rise buildings and a community park by early 2026.
Phase 2, with its centerpiece EOC, continues that transformation — aiming to create not just new housing, but a stronger, more connected neighborhood in the heart of Worcester.
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