New Worcester High-Rise: 415 Units Planned At Franklin St. Site

WORCESTER, MA — A Worcester-based developer has proposed a new high-rise apartment complex that would take over a largely abandoned area along Franklin Street in the downtown area, according to plans submitted to the Planning Board.

The project would include a single new building with 309 units that would take over the entire block between Arctic and Plastic streets south of Franklin Street. All but two existing buildings — 33 and 45 Arctic St. — would be demolished to make way for the development.

The two remaining Arctic Street buildings would be renovated to include 109 more units, bringing the project total to 415 units. Those units would be a mix of studios, and one, two and three-bedroom units. There will also be a 360-space parking garage and a 108-space surface lot at the site, according to plans.

The developer, GoVenture Capital, is in the process of building a 111-unit apartment building in the Greendale neighborhood across from the shuttered Showcase Cinemas building.

If completed, the Franklin Street high-rise would be one of the largest recent developments in Worcester.

The Table Talk Lofts is planned to be 400 units, but the developer is beginning with an in initial seven-story building with about 83 units. The Cove, planned for the site of the former Lucky Dog venue, was initially set to be over 300 units and 13 stories. But developer Gold Block Real Estate LLC has downsized the project to seven stories and about 173 units. Plans for the SOMA development across Madison Street from Polar Park call for a seven-story, 228-unit building.