Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | October 3, 2022 | wbjournal.com BY TIMOTHY DOYLE WBJ Staff Writer O n Main Street in Fitch- burg, across from the Rollstone Boulder, a symbol of the city, is the Boulder Art Gallery, founded 14 years ago by Ann and Peter Capodagli. In addition to running the gallery, Peter is a history enthusiast who leads historic walks in the city. "At the turn of the century, this was a railroad hub. ere were hotels and over a dozen theaters. It was something people did back then: stay at one of the hotels and go see a show," he said. Art galleries and photography studios dotted Main Street. An art museum in Fitchburg dates back to 1885, when Rodney Wallace built the Wallace Library and Art Gallery. en in 1925, Eleanor Norcross founded the Fitch- burg Art Museum. A center of manufacturing, Fitchburg made paper on which art was made and books were print- ed. Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works hired arti- sans to design bicycle frames and carve shotgun stocks. Today, Fitchburg is attempting to reclaim that artistic heritage and centering the economic development of its downtown on the arts. Doing so involves the cooperation of city and state government entities, Fitchburg State University, arts organizations, a commu- nity development corporation, and even healthcare organizations. "Fitchburg has always been an arts town," said Tom Skwierawski, executive director of planning and community development for the City of Fitchburg, "We are a cultural hub in North Central Worcester County." Building on affordability Fitchburg offers a more affordable alternative to Greater Boston and the MetroWest region, with a commuter rail line and easy access to Route 2 for commuting to Middlesex County. e median price of a single-fam- ily home in Fitchburg in August was $350,000, compared to $423,000 in Leominster, $433,500 in Lowell, and $370,000 in Worcester, according to Peabody real estate data company e Warren Group. e fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Fitchburg is $1,358, while in Leominster, it is $1,440, and in Worcester, $1,689, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment. e number of Fitchburg sin- gle-family home sales rose 24% in August vs. August 2021, compared to a 1% drop in Worcester County and a 10% drop statewide. "We're having no problem filling new units," Skwierawski said. "As soon as they go on the market, they are filled." To help further its desirability, the city wants residents to have more to do downtown and wants to retain people Organizations are banding together to build economic development and downtown activity in Fitchburg, centered on the city's artistic legacy Many hands sculpt a city Ann and Peter Capodagli, founders of the Boulder Art Gallery Jessie Olson (left), executive director of the Fitchburg Cultural Alliance, and Tamar Russell Brown, chairperson of the Fitchburg Cultural Council and creative entrepreneur at the alliance's new headquarters on Main Street PHOTO | ERIKA SIDOR Tom Skwierawski, Fitchburg executive director of planning and community development

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