WORCESTER, MA — Worcester housing officials and developer Trinity Financial cut the ribbon Friday on the first phase of The Phoenix at Curtis, marking a major step in the redevelopment of the former Curtis Apartments.
Phase 1 replaced 90 aging public housing units with 129 newly built affordable apartments at the Great Brook Valley site. Building 1A, at 50 GBV Ave., is fully occupied and lease-ups are underway for Building 1B at 40 GBV Ave., according to the Worcester Housing Authority.
The full redevelopment will replace the former 372-unit Curtis Apartments complex with a 527-unit complex, adding about 155 apartments. Trinity Financial said the project includes one-for-one replacement housing, gives current residents the right to return and adds new units for families earning up to 80 percent of area median income.
The project is being built over four phases. Plans also include a Worcester Housing Authority Economic Opportunity Center, renovation of the Great Brook Valley Branch of the Worcester Public Library, new roadways, walkways, added parking, a public green and play areas, according to Trinity Financial.
“This project represents far more than new buildings,” WHA CEO Alex Corrales said. “It represents investment in families, in neighborhoods, and in the future of Worcester. The Phoenix at Curtis is helping replace aging housing with modern homes residents can be proud of while expanding affordable housing opportunities at a time they are desperately needed.”
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Phase 1 includes a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, with a total development cost of $96.9 million. HUD said the project uses Restore-Rebuild, Section 8 project-based vouchers and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to support the new affordable units.
“The Phoenix at Curtis reflects what can happen when strong partnerships come together around a shared vision,” Trinity Financial Vice President Michael Lozano said. “This redevelopment has been years in the making, Trinity is proud to work with WHA, the City, and so many other partners to help create high-quality affordable housing for Worcester families.”
The Curtis Apartments redevelopment comes as Worcester continues to plan for more affordable housing. The city’s Housing Production Plan was adopted by the Planning Board in April 2025, adopted by the City Council in August 2025 and approved by the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities in March 2026, according to the city.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the Curtis project is part of a broader push to meet the city’s housing needs.
“Worcester continues to face significant demand for affordable housing,” Petty said. “Projects like this, along with other WHA redevelopment efforts underway across the city, are helping meet that need while strengthening neighborhoods and improving quality of life for residents.”
The original Curtis Apartments was completed in the early 1950s and was built to house returning World War II veterans and their families, according to Mass.gov.
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