Standing Committee on Economic Development 10/27/2026

The City of Worcester Standing Committee on Economic Development met on October 27, 2026. The most procurement-related item concerned the city-owned former St. Vincent nurses’ building at 128 Providence Street: Economic Development Officer Peter Dunn said a city RFP identified nonprofit Rogerson Communities as the preferred developer for a long-term lease and a proposal for about 98 affordable senior apartments—approximately 53 created through adaptive reuse and 45 in a new addition. The proposed units would serve households at 30%–80% of area median income. The committee unanimously supported the related zoning change to RG5 with an Adaptive Reuse Overlay District. No lease award amount or project budget was stated. The committee also unanimously approved zoning changes for a proposed 40-or-so-unit market-rate conversion at 25 West Chester Street, a 20-townhouse project at 321 Greenwood Street, and an overlay district at 95 Vernon Street; these were zoning actions, not contract awards.

The committee held a proposed increase in the affordable-housing payment-in-lieu rate from 3% to 5% of construction value for further public discussion. Staff cautioned that the increase could affect project viability amid economic pressures and noted that six projects were subject to the ordinance, with about $490,000 in payments anticipated to date. The chair requested a report on the pros and cons of exempting for-sale housing from the requirement. The committee also voted to hold a proposed driveway pavement and permitting ordinance for further staff coordination. Public comment included support for the payment-in-lieu increase and concerns about traffic, drainage, and neighborhood impacts near the 25 West Chester Street proposal.