Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | August 21, 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 New CEO "I am thrilled to be taking the helm at Methods and working with a talented and dedicated team. The history of the company has long focused on premium machines tools, industry-leading automation and engineering, and exceptional customer support." Richard Alton, former CEO of Wisconsin-based Manitou America, said in a Aug. 8 press release announcing him as the new CEO of Sudbury manufacturer Methods Machine Tools Outgoing executive director "I know it caught you off guard, and I know that there was some concern about that. At the time, I believed I was alerting you to an important eventuality that I only discovered the day before. The CCC is already understaffed and overworked with several key positions unfilled for many months. We have a lot of work to do." Shannon O'Brien, chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, in an Aug. 10 meeting where she apologized for the chaos after she abruptly announced the impending departure of CCC Executive Director Shawn Collins New executive director "I have seen what is possible when the business community steps up to support nonprofit organizations and the work they do to help people in need. The potential of the Life Science Cares' model of collective impact is enormous." Former Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer, in an Aug. 15 press release announcing her as the new executive director of Life Science Cares Boston, a Cambridge-based nonprofit seeking to leverage the life sciences community to disrupt the cycle of poverty in Greater Boston BY TIMOTHY DOYLE AND BRAD KANE WBJ Staff Writer and Editor I n order to build a mixed-use, 508-bed student housing complex by 2026, Clark University in Worcester plans to demolish and rebuild an entire block of Main Street in the Main South neighborhood in 2024. "When I have to move to another place, it will be more expensive, and I have to build up a customer base all over again," said Laura Siguenza, owner of Laura's Express convenience store, which is one of the businesses set to be displaced. Among the other businesses occupying space in the block are the restaurant Annie's Clark Brunch, which has been in operation for more than 35 years, and the new Salvadorian bakery Belen Casa del Pan, which bought the cafe from Acoustic Java in January. "Clark has been working in good faith with the businesses to make sure they are fairly compensated for having to move," said Steve Teasdale, executive director of the Main South Community Development Corp. "ere are still discussions that are needed between Clark and the community over a project of this scale." In the place of the buildings, Clark aims to build a seven-story, 156,000-square-foot residential and retail building, adding 508 beds for students and 10,000 square feet of first- floor retail, according to a filing with the Worcester Historical Commission. "I would like to underscore that we respect our long-standing tenants and their contributions to the community, and we are treating our conversations with them about their plans as confidential," Jill Friedman, Clark vice president, marketing & communications, said in an email Aug. 3 to WBJ. In the fall semester, Clark officials will work with students on the types of rooms to be included in the housing project. Faculty and staff will be updated on the project in a Sept. 7 session, according to the letter. "Our highest priority is to engage with our community partners to imagine not only what this important stretch of Main Street will look like, but also how it will contribute to the social, cultural, and economic vitality of Clark and Main South," Clark wrote in a July 19 letter to its campus community. During the 2022-23 academic year, Clark saw a 13% increase in enrollment, which led to a 103% occupancy rate in student housing, leading to the school leasing space from third parties. A Clark study indicated the university needs to add 375 new beds to its housing stock. e Trustees of Clark University own the properties that will be demolished. ey currently contain student and employee housing and first-floor retail space. • 912-914 Main St. - Home to National Grid's Worcester Sustainability Hub • 918-924 Main St. - Home to Clark University's Sculpture Studio • 926-928 Main St. - Home to a salon Unique Nails and convenience store Laura's Express • 930 Main St. - Home to New China Lantern restaurant, and e Community ri Store • 932-934 Main St. - Home to Annie's Clark Brunch; Santana Company Barbershop; salon Smart Cuts Plus, and bakery Belen Casa del Pan • 157 Woodland St. - Student housing • 1 & 3 Hawthorne St. - Student and employee housing Clark University seeks to demolish entire Main South block PHOTO | BRAD KANE The Main South block proposed for demolition is immediately adjacent to Clark University's main campus. W

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