WORCESTER—Officials posed with shovels and hardhats on Tuesday to mark the groundbreaking of The Benjamin on Franklin, a $120 million transit-oriented housing development that adds 364 apartments to downtown Worcester.
The five-story development, located within steps of Union Station, is a partnership between the Michaels Organization and Worcester-based GoVenture Capital, and is being built on a previously vacant parcel near the Franklin Street Firehouse and the memorial honoring six Worcester firefighters who died in a warehouse fire in 1999.
“This neighborhood holds a very special place in the hearts of Worcester residents,” Jay Russo, regional vice president of development for Michaels, said in a statement. “It is a privilege to bring this new residential community here.”
The project, expected to take about two years to complete, includes studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Thirty-six of the apartments are designated as affordable, available to households earning 60 percent of the area median income.
Amenities include a rooftop deck, co-working areas, a game room, fitness center, pet spa, and work-from-home spaces. Private balconies or courtyards, walk-in closets, quartz countertops, and energy-efficient appliances are among the planned in-unit features.
“Housing for our residents is critical for the City of Worcester’s momentum,” Mayor Joseph Petty said in a statement. “Projects like the Benjamin on Franklin transform previously unused sites into units that will be home to Worcester’s newest residents.”
The city chipped in a 15-year tax abatement valued at roughly $14 million to support the project, which helped secure the inclusion of affordable units, according to the developers. The project also received support from the state’s Housing Development Incentive Program.
“Building more housing is key to keeping Massachusetts competitive and retaining our residents,” Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus said in a release. “The Benjamin will provide homes for people close to Worcester’s revitalized transit hub and growing job sectors.”
Developers say the project supports roughly 120 construction jobs. The team also includes general contractor D.F. Pray, architecture firm Maugel DeStefano, and lenders Boston Andes Capital, Safehold Inc., and Truist.
In addition to walkability to Union Station, the development is positioned between downtown and the Canal District and within five miles of major employers such as UMass Medical School, St. Vincent Hospital, and Worcester State University.
In a statement, GoVenture Capital President Brendan Gove called the groundbreaking “a tremendous accomplishment” and said it reflected “years of persistence, patience and a fundamental belief” in Worcester’s growth.
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