Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | April 6, 2026 | wbjournal.com REAL ESTATE INSIDER AUBURN e Auburn Planning Board is weighing whether to accept Nancy Drive as a public way, a move that would shi responsibility for mainte- nance and potential upgrades to the Town of Auburn. During its March 10 meeting, board members raised concerns about the condition of the roadway and the lack of core sampling to assess its structural integrity, noting the Town could face paving costs if the road does not meet standards. BELLINGHAM LPG Ventures, a Milford-based entity affiliated with Integra Network Services, purchased a property at 115 Mendon St. featuring a 13,000-square- foot office building for $1.85 million from Victory LLC, a Mendon-based en- tity managed by Michael Dubeau. Bob Barrera and Chris Dalti of J. Chris- topher Real Estate Group of Rhode Island served as the listing brokers. FRAMINGHAM e Framingham Planning Board is recommending to the City Coun- cil the single-family unit zoning at 1 Clarks Hill Lane be amended to allow the development of up to 16 residential units per acre with a height restriction of 40 feet. Steven Dube and Matt Cuneo have been added to the Framingham Planning Board. Dube has a history in architecture and planning with mixed- use projects while Cuneo works for a real estate firm. Plugged In Band Program Inc., a music education nonprofit based in Needham, purchased a property at 541 Concord St. featuring a 8,800-square- foot retail building for $1.38 million from R&R Holdings Corp., an Ash- land-based entity managed by Gina Richard. Rob Harrington of Framing- ham-based Nexum Group served as the listing broker. FRANKLIN e Franklin Planning Board approved a request from the 27-unit residential development Uncas Avenue Extension, allowing completed units to be occupied while construction con- tinues on the remainder of the project. e development, which was previously approved for an expansion from 18 to 27 units, still has significant infrastruc- ture work outstanding, including road- way improvements backed by a bond of more than $335,000. e project is being developed by Walsh Brothers Builders of Walpole. HOPKINTON e Hopkinton Planning Board voted unanimously during its March 9 meeting to approve a new zoning plan to comply with the state's MBTA Com- munities Act. A plan approved during a town meeting in November failed to meet the state requirements that at least 50% of this district's total land area must consist of contiguous lots. e new plan connects the downtown area zone with a zone in the Walcott Valley neighborhood. Signed into law in 2021, the MBTA Communities Act seeks to increase multi-family zoning in munici- palities with commuter rail access. e Town of Hopkinton is looking to fill two positions on its volunteer De- sign Review Board. e seven-member Design Review Board is tasked with reviewing proposed applications for compliance with the Town's design criteria. Interested applicants can apply on the Town's website. HUDSON e Hudson Planning Board reviewed the proposal to redevelop the former Intel campus at 75 Reed Road into a 950,000-square-foot industrial facility. e project, led by National De- velopment of Newton, would transform the site into a logistics or manufac- turing use, though no tenant has been announced. At its Jan. 21 meeting, the board focused on traffic impacts, with consultants presenting a transportation study analyzing 20 intersections and proposing mitigation measures includ- ing roadway improvements and long- term monitoring. e analysis estimated the project could generate hundreds of daily truck trips. e proposal is under- going state environmental review, with a dra environmental impact report expected in spring. REAL ESTATE INSIDER | B R I E F S BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Managing Editor T he former CFO of a prominent local development firm has been accused of embezzling over $1.3 million from the company. Richard Collins, former CFO of Southborough-based Walker Development and Construction Management, is facing both a civil lawsuit and criminal charges relating to his alleged misappropriation of company funds. e civil lawsuit filed by Walker Development in Worcester Superior Court claims Jeffrey Walker, the firm's CEO, discovered the alleged fraud aer coming across a check in April 2025 in the amount of $30,500, payable to Collins. Walker claimed in an affidavit he did not sign the check, and that Collins had used a stamp bearing his signature without authorization. Walker fired Collins aer the discovery, and said in the affidavit further investigation unveiled Collins had withdrawn over $1.3 million from the company without permission. Walker said Collins later admitted to taking funds from the firm. Collins was arranged on nine charges, including the and identity fraud, on March 24, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, which first reported on the accusations. "It is an unfortunate situation," Walker wrote in a statement to WBJ on March 25. "We treated him like family and trusted him. Fortunately, we have a great team in place and are in a stronger position today and moving forward." Attorney Darren Griffis is representing Collins in the criminal case, according to the Telegram, while Benjamin Rudolph is representing Collins in the civil case, according to court documents. Both attorneys work at Rudolf, Smith, Griffis and Ruggieri in Worcester. e law firm did not reply to an email from WBJ seeking comment. Founded in 2013, Walker Development has worked on numerous projects in Central Massachusetts, including renovation of the Firefly's BBQ restaurant in Marlborough and the renovation of former EMC office space in Hopkinton into 30,000 square feet of modern office and laboratory space. e firm moved its headquarters from Marlborough to Southborough in 2024 as part of an effort to expand. Former CFO of Southborough development firm facing accusations of embezzling $1.3M PHOTO | ERIC CASEY W Walker Development is headquartered in Southborough.

• Cover