Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | September 3, 2018 | wbjournal.com People. Places. Product. Photographic images for advertising, public relations, graphic and corporate communications groups . See the difference. 165 Holly Lane • Holliston, MA 01746 Phone/Fax: 508.429.3188 • www.ronbouleyphoto.com R O N B O U L E Y P H O T O G R A P H Y The neighborhood's now second-biggest developer seeks to avoid homogenization Canal District character BY SARAH CONNELL Special to the Worcester Business Journal W orcester's Canal Dis- trict is no stranger to multi-million dollar developments. e City of Worcester's Aug. 17th announcement of the AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox relocating to Worcester marked the third indication of major construction to redefine the neighborhood in as many years. First came the $18-million Fidelity Bank Worcester Ice Center completed in September 2017. en, the $21-million Harding Green property broke ground in May. Now, Polar Park, the $240-million minor-league baseball development, is slated for 2021. In each case, developers are bringing density to a cherished area of Worcester largely devoid of residents. In announc- ing the stadium deal, the city said, "e architecture, siting, and overall design of the ballpark will pay considerable attention to the unique characteristics of the Canal District. e ballpark will be designed to seamlessly fit into the Canal District and complement the existing feel of the area." Perhaps no one understands the unique characteristics of the Canal District better than developer Allen Fletcher. Fletcher has lived in the neigh- borhood for 17 years and understands its strengths and weaknesses. "When big public projects get their momentum, they tend to over-simplify, homogenize and systematically elim- inate all character from what they're trying to improve," Fletcher said. A $21M project Fletcher's Harding Green develop- ment on the edge of Kelley Square will house 48 apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space for owner-operated food stalls in what Fletcher has dubbed the Worcester Public Market. e mar- ket will have 30-40 vendors and in July received a $500,000 grant from the Mas- sachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources to buy kitchen equipment. By comparison, the ballpark develop- ment will feature 250 apartment units along with 65,000 square feet of retail space. At the time of the ballpark's com- pletion, Fletcher's mixed-use building will be nearly two-years-old. Fletcher has made little changes to his original plan, save what he calls compul- sive fiddling and second-guessing. He laments scaling the project down from its initial design, but resigns himself to the fact the plans are practical. "We le a lot on the cutting room floor that I mourn when I really remem- (Above) Construction has begun on Allen Fletcher's proposed Kelley Square development, which (below) previously served as a parking lot. RENDERING AND PHOTO/COURTESY

• Cover