Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | June 21, 2021 | wbjournal.com C E N T R A L M AS S I N B R I E F V E R BAT I M Retailer of the Year "Good Chemistry Nurseries began as a company that is rooted in making life better for the people we serve, and that includes the members of our community." Matt Huron, founder and CEO of cannabis retailer Good Chemistry, which received the Retailer of the Year award from the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the first time the honor has gone to a marijuana company No more student debt "Our goal with this initiative is to remove the financial barrier of institutional debt that keeps many students from completing their education and achieving their goals in life." Luis Pedraja, president of Quinsigmond Community College in Worcester, which used $2.5 million to pay off college-held debt for students enrolled in credit degree or certificate program during the COVID-19 pandemic CEO replacement "Dr. Scherbakov's technological knowledge as well as extensive understanding of the company's operations, sales and customers contributed significantly to IPG's success since he joined us in 1995." Valentin Gapontsev, founder and longtime leader of Oxford laser manufacturer IPG Photonics, announcing he is becoming executive chairman and being replaced as CEO by COO Eugene Scherbakov W T he former home of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Worcester may soon become a five-story apartment complex, according to plans an Atlanta developer filed with the Worcester Planning Board. e new complex -- called Alta Seven Hills -- will include 371 residential units, a 502-space parking garage, and 21-space parking lot on 5.3 acres on Mulberry Street, which is visible from I-290 near Shrewsbury Street and Saint Vincent Hospital. e developer -- WP East Acquisitions, LLC -- asked the Planning Board to review its proposal at its June 18 meeting. e Mount Carmel church was torn Demolished Mount Carmel church site slated for five-story apartment complex BY BRAD KANE Worcester Business Journal Editor down in 2019, aer a group of mostly former parishioners called the Mount Carmel Preservation Society attempted to save the structure through a public campaign. e property is still owned by e Roman Catholic Bishop of Worcester, according to the Worcester County Registry of Deeds. e diocese did tell the planning board WP East Acquisition has permission to pursue its plans, which likely means the developer will purchase the property aer the plans are approved. e 371 market-rate apartments will be a combination of one, two and three bedrooms. e parking garage will be on the property closest to the I-290 highway and connect to the apartment building via a skybridge, according to the plans filed with the Planning Board. e site will include other residential amenities, including a swimming pool, small park, and electric vehicle charging stations. WP East Acquisitions is the corporation for this project from Atlanta multi-family real estate investment firm Wood Partners, which has offices throughout the United States, including in Lexington. e company's developments include more than 79,000 homes valued at $14 billion, according to its website.

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