Vacant Worcester Lots May Become Condos For Businesses

WORCESTER, MA — A Main South nonprofit may soon fill a vacant block along Main Street with lease-to-own spaces for local business owners.

The Main South Community Development Corporation (MSCDC) is looking to buy the vacant lot near the corner of Main and Benefit streets to build a one-story commercial block. Business owners would be given the chance to buy spaces inside the block via a lease-to-own model — called "commercial condominiums."

MassDevelopment, the state's development financing agency, has conditionally agreed to invest $950,000 into the project with MSCDC providing additional financial backing, according to documents filed with the City Council on Friday.

MSCDC needs the city to sign off on the deed transfer before the project can begin. Worcester sold the properties at 809, 811 and 813 Main St. in 2022 to Frank Zitomersky. The transfer came with a deed restriction allowing Worcester the right of first refusal in case Zitomersky wanted to sell the properties again.

The City Council on Tuesday could vote to lift that deed restriction, allowing MSCDC to proceed with the project.