Worcester Business Journal

24 Worcester Business Journal | April 29, 2024 | wbjournal.com Mark Borenstein Partner Bowditch & Dewey, in Worcester Employees: 135 Residence: Worcester Colleges: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Western New England University School of Law A growing region is going to need a lot of new development-related permits. at's where Borenstein comes in. Borenstein has represented developers who are looking to permit hundreds of new housing units, helping Central Massachusetts address its shortage of housing stock. is includes working to gain approvals for a 94-unit building on Mason Street, the $160-million redevelopment of the Worcester Housing Authority's Lakeside Apartments, and the rezoning of six acres in Worcester to allow for the construction of dense, affordable, and accessible housing for seniors. All of these projects will play a role in addressing the region's housing shortage. Beyond housing, Borenstein helped gain approvals for the 20,000-square- foot expansion of a commercial warehouse in Shirley. He assists local breweries, wineries, and distilleries throughout the state in gaining necessary regulatory approvals, and he even helped convince the Worcester License Commission to once again allow businesses to provide bottle service to customers, a move potentially providing a boost for the city's nightlife scene. In addition to his work with Bowditch & Dewey, Borenstein is a member of the advisory committee for Worcester Now/Next plan, using his experience in the real estate game to help cra a vision for the future of development and planning in the city for the next three decades. A lifelong Worcester resident, Borenstein finds a way to contribute outside his usual nine-to-five; in 2017, he served as the lead of the legal committee for the then-named POW! WOW! Worcester, helping convince City of Worcester officials the nascent volunteer organization could handle the responsibilities of hosting a citywide street art mural festival. POW! WOW! held five public art festivals between 2016 and 2021, adding color and character to the city's landscape. - E.C. Mike Angelini Senior counsel Bowditch & Dewey, in Worcester Employees: 135 Residence: Worcester Colleges: Wesleyan University, Duke University Law School Angelini will be the first to tell you he doesn't flex his power in the Central Massachusetts economy the way he did in decades past. He stepped down as Bowditch chairman two years ago, and he no longer serves on the board of Massport or the Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester. When asked to list his accomplishments from the past year, he simply said, "None." Yet, Angelini can get momentum going behind most any project or alter the thinking behind any effort, as his decades of connections, sage wisdom, and community involvement make him a nearly universally respected figure in the Central Massachusetts business community. Angelini attributes his accomplishments to the commitment and teamwork of people in the community. It helps too, he's been at it for 55 years since he was hired fresh out of law school by Bowditch & Dewey founders in 1968. "Knowing lots of extraordinary people certainly helps," Angelini said. Despite having seemingly scaled back his professional involvement, Angelini still holds important positions in the community. He is chairman of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority, which helps the City of Worcester facilitate economic development by buying properties like the downtown Denholm Building for $3 million so a new developer can be brought it, and overseeing projects like the $160-million construction of Polar Park baseball stadium. Angelini remains a board member of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, where he mentors other up-and-coming board members and helps oversee the $198-million endowment, which GWCF doles out to various community efforts, including helping small nonprofits with operating funding and growing their missions. - E.M. P O W E R 1 0 0 Central Massachusetts attorneys (from left) Mark Borenstein, Paul Carey, Robert Kilroy, and Mark Donahue PHOTO | EDD COTE

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