Plan For Empty Worcester Block Along Main Street Approved

WORCESTER, MA — A Main Street block that's been vacant for about 30 years took a major step toward redevelopment last week.

The Worcester Planning Board on June 29 approved a plan to build seven commercial condominiums — including two set aside for restaurants — at 807-815 Main St. The Main South Community Development Corporation acquired the land for the project earlier this year.

MassDevelopment, the state development financing agency, awarded the project a $950,000 grant in January, describing the project as "seven affordable 'lease to own' commercial storefront units ranging from 1,175 to 1,720 square feet in size."

According to plans submitted to the city, the commercial strip would begin at the corner of Benefit Street with two restaurants, with the remaining seven spaces after that. A parking lot would wrap around the northeast side of the strip and wrap around the rear.

Steve Teasdale, MSCDC's executive director, told the Worcester Business Journal in June that the agency could break ground on the project by September.