Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 27, 2025 | Worcester Business Journal 13 N O R T H C E N T R A L M A S S . F O C U S "e volume of new residential and commercial development downtown bodes well for this parcel, with its prime location, to be part of the city's renewal," Hodge wrote. "We're moving quickly today, and the theater block and down- town partnership remain one of my top priorities as a new president." While the theater awaits its next act, its storefronts include art gallery space and e Pauper's Pantry restaurant. Housing and hotels Hoping to create a haven for artists seeking reasonable rents, the under-con- struction Fitchburg Arts Community at 62-82 Academy St. seeks to turn a for- mer horse stable and two former public school buildings into 68 artist los with gallery and performances spaces. e project is being led by Fitch- burg-based community development corporation NewVue Communities and is expected to be completed later this year. Funding is coming from a mix of public and private sources. "e City is doing everything we possibly can to incentivize housing de- velopment in downtown.," said Liz Mur- phy, executive director of community development & planning for the City, mentioning the availability of funding through the state's Gateway City-fo- cused Housing Development Incentive Program. "We have a great relationship with Sen. [John] Cronin and Rep. [Mi- chael] Kushmerek, and when they can they have been getting earmarks for us specifically for housing downtown." e good relationship with the region's statehouse representation is key to revitalization efforts, said Meagen Donoghue, executive director of the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority. "We've been able to bridge the gap to make housing happen in these very unique buildings," said Donoghue. Housing units are on tap for several of Downtown Fitchburg's other older buildings, including eight residential units planned for the 148-year-old brick building at 347-355 Main St., which is set to be the site of Power Surge Bar Arcade this spring. "e key is renovating the existing structures," Squailia said. "at's where you're also going to see the most value for your dollar when you renovate rather than to build new. Our historical architecture really draws a lot of people, and it's a real amenity for people want- ing to come here and live here." Another boost would be a boutique hotel. Existing hospitality options in the area are mostly limited to the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, a 406-unit fam- ily-focused resort. Great Wolf is about five miles away from the downtown area and isn't quite the right fit for parents visiting students at Fitchburg State or The former courthouse and registry of deeds building at 84 Elm St. (top) is one property that officials at Fitchburg City Hall (bottom) see as the next phase of downtown revitalization. PHOTOS | MATT WRIGHT Key downtown Fitchburg properties Name Address Current use Note Fitchburg Theater Block 689 - 705 Main St. Art gallery, restaurant, While the titular theater remains idle, Fitchburg educational State has built a video game design studio on-site. Former Johnsonia Building lot 520 Main St. Empty lot This lot was put up for RFP in August, with residen- tial, retail, or mixed-use options as a possibility. Fitchburg Public Market 35 Main St. Food stalls Food stalls featuring a variety of cuisines, plus a commissary kitchen used by food trucks and caterers. Former court house/registry 84 Elm St. Unused This state-owned property will be part of a RFP of deeds process soon, according to Fitchburg Mayor Sam Squailia. Sources: Various websites, Fitchburg Public Market, City of Fitchburg those looking to do business in the city. Squailia said a boutique hotel would be a good next step for downtown. South American twist on cheeseburgers One example of a business contribut- ing to the rejuvenation of downtown is Fitchburg Public Market. A project of the Worcester Regional Food Hub, the market is designed in a similar vein to the public market in Worcester's Canal District and other similar establishments in cities around the country. e market is fully-oc- cupied with eight food stalls, many highlighting cuisine from the region's immigrant communities. ese include La Colombiana Ham- burger, featuring South American twists on the classic cheeseburger or hotdog, and El Friquitin De Jenny, a stall special- izing in Puerto Rican street food. e establishment has fit in well in changing Downtown Fitchburg, said market Manager Kim Gordon. "Fitchburg and the Main Street area were very inspirational to the project from the very beginning, because it seemed like a place where small busi- nesses could really take off and grow and expand," Gordon said. "ere's ob- viously several buildings that could still use some rehabilitation, but it's a really beautiful Main Street corridor." While she would be sad to see some of the existing tenants leave for their own Downtown Fitchburg restaurant spaces, Gordon understands that's part of the appeal of the public market. "At some point several of them will be abandoning us for their own brick and mortars because they're already just thriving and being so successful," she said. "So that is a long-term goal." Rebuilding after the fire One event Fitchburg's original down- town revitalization plan in 2001 couldn't predict was the 2011 Johnsonia Building fire. Constructed as a hotel and office building in 1897, it featured condomini- ums when the fire destroyed it. e since-vacant 15,651-square-foot lot at 520 Main St. was purchased by the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority in 2021. e FRA is in the final stages of reviewing proposals for the lot. Next up for the RFP process may be the former courthouse and registry of deeds building at 84 Elm St. A goth- ic-style building dating back to the 1870s, the City is waiting for approval to put the state-owned building up for redevelop- ment. Developers have already expressed interest in the property, said Squailia, with some hope the building could end up as a boutique hotel. Another milestone to look forward to will be the connection of downtown with the Twin Cities Rail Trail, a bike path set to connect Fitchburg with the downtown of its twin city of Leominster. With construction starting in the spring and expected to take two years, the pedestrian and rail bridge over the Nashua River is the final piece of that puzzle and will be the state's longest pedestrian bridge when completed. W

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