72 replies to this topic

[ALEEJAC]

I'm not sure if this has it's own thread somewhere, but the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences has some cool construction going on downtown too. The old Graphic Arts building on Foster Street is being gutted and turned into their Living and Learning Center. They will be adding a new top floor, to make it 9 stories tall.

MCPHS Construction Press Release

There are renderings of the finished work on signs at the construction site. It looks very nice, trust me. The architectural firm is:
Perkins + Will

Cotuit, I promise I will get pictures soon.

[Benhamin]

^ Ah, so that is what that is, thanks for the info.

Once I resolve the problems with my image hosting and the weather clears up, I will have more pics for all. Promise.

[Cotuit]

ALEEJAC, on May 16 2005, 10:58 AM, said:

Cotuit, I promise I will get pictures soon. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Benhamin, on May 16 2005, 12:42 PM, said:

Once I resolve the problems with my image hosting and the weather clears up, I will have more pics for all. Promise.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't wait.

[oliver]

Does anybody have an update on the Hilton Hotel and on the City Square? Any time line when they are finally going to start the City Square project?

I can't wait, right now Worcester's downtown is just dead.

[ALEEJAC]

oliver, on Jul 8 2005, 10:27 AM, said:

Does anybody have an update on the Hilton Hotel and on the City Square? Any time line when they are finally going to start the City Square project?

I can't wait, right now Worcester's downtown is just dead.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I drove by the area on September 8th and steel beams for the frame of the Hilton had reached about 2 stories tall. Next door, the Court House has some of the exterior done. I don't know anything about City Square.

[Benhamin]

Nothing is happening with City Square right now, they haven't started demo work on the Common Outlets yet. The new biotech park that I posted above has started some demo and site work, I believe.

Sorry about lack of pictures, but my image hosting just doesn't work right now, it won't allow me to upload new pics .

[MadVlad]

This looks real nice!! Go, Worcester, Go!!!!

[monsoon]

Benhamin, on Sep 10 2005, 12:36 PM, said:

Nothing is happening with City Square right now, they haven't started demo work on the Common Outlets yet. The new biotech park that I posted above has started some demo and site work, I believe.

Sorry about lack of pictures, but my image hosting just doesn't work right now, it won't allow me to upload new pics .

Anybody with Members+ status receives free hosting with UrbanPlanet. You can attach them directly in your post. Look for the file attachments menu.

[cloudship]

They should be starting work tearing down soon. They are doing the last few moves (Quinsigamond Extension Campus, and the Foothills practice space) over in a couple of weeks. That place is a ghosttown now. Then they will be able to star demolition.

I am not 100% sure this is going to be the panacea they think it is - it won't fail, I don't think, but it doesn't address the real issue that most people don't want a vibrant downtown, rather a bunch of offices and a few old fashioned department stores like Deholms. The offices are there - they just need to be spruced up. I just worry that there is not enough real support from the residents of the city to really make it work.

[oliver]

I am not 100% sure this is going to be the panacea they think it is - it won't fail, I don't think, but it doesn't address the real issue that most people don't want a vibrant downtown, rather a bunch of offices and a few old fashioned department stores like Deholms. The offices are there - they just need to be spruced up. I just worry that there is not enough real support from the residents of the city to really make it work.


You got a point there. It seems like Worcester people don't even want a desirable downtown. I think it still could work if there is enough migration into Worcester. They are building a bunch of desirable living space downtown (stylish lofts). If all those are actually selling there would be a big enough downtown population to support a nice center. And there are plenty of private investments to support this as well (new bars, restaurants etc.). Block 5 on Green Street for example, this place feels like being in NYC. So they just have to develop the area around it:). I moved to the Worcester area in 2001 and it was terrible back then, it came a long way since and with so many projects on the way I am very positive that it might work out.

[oliver]

Check this out about a possible canal behind Union Station. Now wouldn't that be beautiful?


http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...opinion_columns

[cloudship]

The sad thing is that there is a big fight against the canal zone. Mostly from businesses in the Green Island section, which are predominantly service, not retail. And they basically feel that the area is exactly what they want and why should they have to move?

Personally, I would LOVE to see this happen. I think it is the best posibility yet for Worcester, especially if they get the right retail mix in there. A good independant bookstore (on par with what Tatnuck USED to be), a good kitch store geared towards the college crownd, maybe a science toy store (Edmunds Scientific?). Just not a bunch of clothing stores. In reality I don't think it even needs the canal per se, just to be fixed up properly, and made pedestrian friendly. Lastly, it would be great indeed if they finally built some kind of transit system that went from Kelley Square, along Harding, down Shrewsbury to White City.

[Cotuit]

That sounds like a great project, though it seems the developers are quite iffy about where their money is coming from. They mentioned a self-taxing business district supporting the project, while I think that's a great idea (we have one of those in Downtown Providence) they have to get the business community behind it. The way it came together in Providence is that the biggest landowner (Gilbane) got fully behind the measure and convinced everyone else it was best for them to sign on. Sounds like Worcester needs one of it's big business leaders to get behind this plan to make it happen.

[oliver]

The downtown building of the College of Pharmacy is completed and it looks beautiful. The Courthouse and the Hilton Garden Inn are going up and the first part of the Worcester Common park is completed. Everything looks pretty good so far. I will try to get some updated pictures on the weekend.
But the most exciting happening is the Worcester City Square. I started a new forum about this project, as it will be a huge. I pray that this will turn Worcester around. It's a big chance. If they are going to blow it, it will be time for me to move to Providence or Boston. I grew up in Europe and I can't stand to live in a city without downtown anymore.

[MadVlad]

You can always move to Hartford too

[oliver]

I actually lived in Hartford when I came to the US first (98). I didn't like it too much, certainly no downtown feeling back than (great skyline though). I know it's getting better, but sorry, no comparison to Providence.

[AriPVD]

You're always welcome in PVD, Oliver.

[oliver]

Thanks for all the invitations! I will choose when Worcester fails. I took some photos of ongoing projects (Pharmacy College Building, Hilton, Courthouse). Could somebody explain to me know how I upload them onto this page???

I clicked on the little image icon and it asks me for an URL... Some idiot proof description here please...

Edited by oliver, 29 October 2005 - 05:34 PM.

[Cotuit]

oliver, on Oct 29 2005, 07:33 PM, said:

I clicked on the little image icon and it asks me for an URL... Some idiot proof description here please...

I posted an explanation in the other Worcester thread and I eagerly await photos.

I wouldn't give up on Worcester yet, there's some good things in the pipeline there and it could really begin to turn around soon.

[oliver]

OK. Here I try to post my first picture, the new mcphs building downtown Worcester:

Edited by oliver, 30 October 2005 - 12:47 AM.