Worcester Business Journal

8 Worcester Business Journal | November 2, 2026 | wbjournal.com REAL ESTATE INSIDER BY ERIC CASEY WBJ Managing Editor C ontractors have filed five lawsuits collectively seeking about $5.5 million regarding work at three Worcester apartment developments associated with Watertown-based SMC Management, including the unfinished 185-unit project at the former Table Talk Pies property. No construction activity was visible at the Table Talk Square site during WBJ visits over the past two weeks, including Oct. 26. Subcontractor Middlesex Glass Co. alleged in a September lawsuit that Maryland general contractor Bozzuto Contracting Co. suspended work because of payment issues with SMC, which subsequently terminated Bozzuto's contract. e Table Talk project is located within the Ballpark DIF district, where properties generate revenues to help Worcester repay its Polar Park construction debt. e lawsuits concern Table Talk Square and two developments completed this year: the 102-unit Residences on Madison and the 210- unit Poet Hill Residences. Some seek payment directly from SMC project owners, while others involve Bozzuto subcontractors pursuing what they claim are unpaid bills and liens against SMC's property. An attorney representing SMC said the Madison-related litigation has been resolved but declined to offer further details. "My clients and I have no comment other than to say that the litigation regarding Madison has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties, and the parties are working in good faith to resolve all remaining matters," Fall River-based attorney Kevin McRoy wrote in an email to WBJ. McRoy declined to offer a timeline for when Table Talk construction could resume or details on the resolution to the disputes involving Residences on Madison. All five lawsuits remain active as of Oct. 26, according to court records. e most serious allegations appear in Bozzuto's Madison-related lawsuit, which accused SMC Founder and Principal Partner Stephen Chapman and related companies of diverting construction-loan proceeds and committing to developments they lacked sufficient resources to fund. SMC disputed those misconduct claims in its own legal filing. Three Table Talk claims total $1.35M ree contractors have sued over approximately $1.35 million in allegedly unpaid bills at Table Talk Square: Dorchester-based Feeney Brothers Services claims $608,031 remains unpaid under its contract with the SMC project owner. Connecticut-based McCarthy Concrete claims $628,876 remains unpaid for concrete work performed under a Bozzuto subcontract. Tewksbury-based Middlesex Glass claims Bozzuto owes the company $112,463 for storefront and mirror work. All three seek to enforce mechanics liens against the Table Talk property, asking courts to authorize a sale of the property or SMC's interest if necessary to recover payment. Middlesex is seeking payment from Bozzuto and a lien on SMC's property to help recover the unpaid money. In regard to Poet Hill, Bridgewater- based Callahan Inc. sued the SMC project owner on Oct. 22, alleging approximately $1.06 million remained unpaid for construction work. Callahan initially claimed SMC owed approximately $2.15 million but acknowledged receiving nearly $1.1 million in additional payments around October. e contractor seeks payment, interest and enforcement of a lien against the Poet Hill property. Other than SMC, none of the other parties involved in the lawsuits responded to WBJ's requests for comment. Bozzuto alleged broader financial problems Bozzuto alleges SMC owes it approximately $3.1 million for work at Residences on Madison and asserted claims against the project owner, Chapman and related SMC companies. e Maryland-based contractor alleged more than $3 million in construction-loan proceeds intended to pay it and its subcontractors were diverted to investors or other purposes. It accused Chapman and related companies of making false or misleading statements and engaging in unfair business practices. Bozzuto also alleged the three Worcester developments collectively had more than $10 million in unpaid obligations at the time of its August complaint, including approximately $2.1 million at Poet Hill, at least $5 million at Table Talk and $3.1 million at Madison. In a September filing, SMC disputed the misconduct claims and characterized the matter as a nonpayment dispute. It argued most claims belonged in mediation and arbitration and said the Madison property provided sufficient security for Bozzuto's lien without further restrictions on SMC's assets. Ballpark impact? e Table Talk property is within Polar Park's district improvement financing plan area, where tax revenue and other funds generated by development helps pay debt service on the publicly financed ballpark. A 2025 city report said district revenue fell $929,000 short of projections in fiscal 2025, largely because anticipated development had been delayed. e fund's cumulative deficit stood at $1.7 million, with another $390,000 shortfall projected for fiscal 2026. At the time, City Manager Eric Batista attributed the delays to high construction costs, interest rates and market uncertainty, while expressing confidence future development would repay the city over the financing initiative's remaining life. Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, and primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries. Five lawsuits filed against SMC, developer of former Table Talk site W No construction was taking place recently at the unfinished 185-unit project at the former Table Talk Pies property. PHOTO | ERIC CASEY

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