Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 9. 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 11 Introducing Central Mass BUSINESS LEADS e-newsletter! A new offering from the Worcester Business Journal - sign up today to receive detailed information on hundreds of companies in the region that have incorporated within the past quarter, in a searchable, easy-to-use format. Each month, these leads will give you the opportunity to reach new and emerging business leaders seeking to establish themselves in the community with new partnerships and contracts. Stay ahead of your competition by reaching new clients! Worcester Business Journal WBJ Business LEADS Sign up today for this valuable resource! wbjournal.com/leads Jack's Abby Framingham's own brewery, which includes a beer hall and kitchen, has continued to grow since it opened its original location in 2011. Now in a for- mer Dennison Manufacturing building on Clinton Street, the brewery represents an investment of about $6.5 million, a workforce of 100 and counting, using about 130,000 square feet downtown. Deluxe Depot Diner Located in the historic H.H. Richardson train station, an architectural gem and downtown focal point that has been home a series of restaurants over the years, the Deluxe Depot Diner has garnered rave reviews since opening in 2014. It has sister locations in Water- town and Newton . Pho Dakao Attracting similar attention is Pho Dakao, the authentic Vietnamese eatery on Con- cord Street, which has become famous for its soups above all, since opening in 2014. Framingham investment Town leaders are banking on zoning changes to usher in a new wave of invest- ment from developers and other business owners who want to make Framing- ham home. Here's a look at the newest arrivals, and those that may be next to land in downtown. Source: Town of Framingham week to formally develop the agree- ments, which are subject to the approval of town meeting voters. Laying the proper infrastructure In addition to zoning changes and tax incentives, downtown Framingham has seen some recent infrastructure improvements that are essential to redevelopment. A series of traffic and streetscape improvements were completed downtown through a $10-million proj- ect overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. This increased walkability and helped relieve traffic, said Halpin. Meanwhile, Boston elec- tricity and heating provider Eversource Energy has invested $30 million in utility infrastructure upgrades. Halpin said this supports power demands that come along with new infrastructure. Early settlers Although town leaders have zeroed in on residential development as the impetus for more retail business down- town, important new retail tenants have already arrived. Perhaps most notable in terms of scale and visibility is Jack's Abby Beer Hall & Kitchen on Clinton Street. Jack's Abby also makes its lagers in its on-site brewery, where tours are offered to patrons. It's become a desti- nation for people from all over New England, said Sam Hendler, who owns the business with his two brothers. Founded in 2011, Jack's Abby deliv- ers beer to customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Vermont. They started out in a smaller location near their current site, which is in a former Dennison Manufacturing building. The property had stood vacant for many years since Dennison ceased operations in Framingham in the early 1990s. Jack's Abby moved to Clinton Street when it needed to grow, adding a the restaurant and bar. In January, the brewery will celebrate the opening of a new tasting room, which was part of an expansion that also grew manufac- turing and storage capacity next door to the original Clinton Street site. Hendler said the brothers chose Framingham for a number of reasons, includ- ing the relatively low price for the space a brewery requires. "The craft beer move- ment … has a lot of ties to some of the movements you're seeing throughout the economy with people trying to turn back to smaller produc- ers. You see downtowns being revital- ized, people turning away from the big malls, and people choosing to do business with local businesses and local artisans," Hendler said. For all of its selling points, though, Hendler agreed with town officials that a lack of transit-oriented residen- tial development has been the prima- ry hindrance to Framingham seeing more interest from retailers like him. A former resident of downtown Framingham, Hendler said there's a large waiting list at the luxury apart- ment complex where he lived until recently, also in a former Dennison building. Hendler considers Robert, the eco- nomic development chief, the driving force behind the changes that could push Framingham to the top of list of attractive places for young profession- als to live in Metrowest. "If there were more places to live down here, there absolutely would be more young people living down here," Hendler said. "We see a huge oppor- tunity on the restaurant and enter- tainment end." Modera Framingham This is the first new residential project to be permitted since zoning changes allow- ing greater density were approved by town meeting members in October 2015. Con- struction of 270 luxury apartments could begin this spring, adding new housing on Waverly Street within a 10-minute walk to the commuter rail station. The project rep- resents a $40-million investment by Texas developer Mill Creek Residential. 75 Concord St. A second developer has proposed con- struction of a mixed-use property, includ- ing 197 apartments and 2,600-square-feet of retail space. The $60-million project is scheduled for a review by the Planning Board in January. CommCreative The integrated marketing firm moved its headquarters into downtown Framingham this year, investing $2 million in its new Fountain Street offices and bringing with it a workforce of young professionals. A slew of new downtown Framingham restaurants have created a new atmosphere, including the Padaria Brasil Bakery next to the municipal offices where Halpin works. He is chatting with employee Diones Lima. P H O T O / E D D C O T E W W 467 Total proposed apartments slated for two downtown Framingham developments

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