Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | June 26, 2023 | wbjournal.com C E N T R A L M A S S I N B R I E F V E R B AT I M Outgoing president "While this is a major change, I do believe it is for the good of the company. As I have grown older, it has become clear to me that I need help in running the company. Just as my father needed help back in 2003 when I started working for Table Talk, now in 2023 I need help." Harry Kokkinis, third generation executive of Worcester food manufacturer Table Talk Pies, announcing on June 20 he becoming executive chairman of the company while venture capital executive Isaac Long will take over Kokkinis' role as president Incoming president "I've long been following Block's success in developing best-in-class lasers and detection systems and am delighted to be joining a stellar team to further realize Block's commercialization and development goals." Steven Buckley, the new president of Southborough laser manufacturer Block Engineering, in the June 7 announcement saying he will take over some of the duties from Chairman and CEO Daniel Cavicchio, who is remaining in those two roles New CEO "In a time when we need more curious and creative problem solvers, Discovery Museum is helping thousands of kids each year to explore their world confidently and recognize their own abilities to make a difference." Marie Beam, chief development officer of the Discovery Museum in Acton, in the June 14 announcement saying she will take over as CEO on Jan. 1, following the retirement of Neil Gordon BY TIMOTHY DOYLE WBJ Staff Writer B oston developer Trinity Financial proposed a complete redevelopment of its New Orchard Hills Estates affordable housing complex in Oxford, demolishing and rebuilding 215 existing affordable apartments and replacing them with updated units. In a second phase, the developer would like to build 165 additional mixed-income units. e friendly 40B project would be completed in multiple phases, with 114 units being demolished and rebuilt in phase 1A and 111 units in phase 1B. Trinity would work with residents on relocation during construction, moving some to vacant apartments at the site and employing a relocation service provider to relocate the remainder of the residents. When phase one is complete, Trinity proposes expanding the site with 165 additional units for mixed-income tenants. e units, most available and affordable to tenants earning 60% of area median income or below, will not be distinguishable by their income restriction, Jonathan Brahmer, Trinity Financial vice president of development, said to WBJ on June 13. e company plans to make the development more community-oriented with sidewalks and improved amenity spaces. Buildings will be oriented with stoops facing the street and sidewalk, with streets designed to slow traffic and make the development safer for pedestrians. Currently, the development lacks sidewalks, and buildings are oriented to parking lots. e project is expected to cost $250 million and will involve roadwork and a $20-million improvement to an onsite waste-treatment facility. e Town has submitted an application for a MassWorks grant to help with roadwork and the waste treatment plant. Representatives from Trinity Financial, Boston architecture firm ICON Architecture, and others involved in the project appeared before the Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals on June 15. e Board approved a motion to have the Town engage peer review of our general civil, stormwater, and the traffic study, and to continue the meeting until July 13 for that peer review to come back, said Brahmer. Trinity Financial is working with the Worcester Housing Authority on a similar project to redevelop the Curtis Apartments in Worcester's Great Brook Valley neighborhood. Developer seeks $250M demolition, renovation, expansion of Oxford affordable housing complex W These renderings from ICON Architecture of Boston show how Trinity Financial wants to redevelop the New Orchard Hills Estates complex in Oxford. RENDERINGS | COURTESY OF TRINITY FINANCIAL

• Cover