Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 17, 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 5 REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY MONSON DEVELOPMENT CENTER – FOR SALE The sale and redevelopment of a portion of the former Monson Development Center presents an exciting opportunity to create a unique mixed-use development to support a mainly rural economy (and expanding light industrial economy) in the village-like historic Town of Monson. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking responses to the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase and sale of a portion of this state- owned property. Please refer to the RFP for site tour and specific submission requirements. MONSON DEVELOPMENT CENTER: • 256+/- acres for sale — bid on entire site or an Area • Historic property may be eligible for federal and state Historic Tax Credits • Town supports mixed use development • Adjacent to hundreds of acres of protected agricultural and recreation land • Includes undeveloped rail spur TO OBTAIN THE RFP: www.mass.gov/DCAMM/Monson2017 B R I E F S Regulate Uber, Airbnb as regular businesses The state Department of Public Utilities in April banned more than 8,000 drivers from working for Uber, Lyft or other ride-hailing services after they failed back- ground checks that looked for license suspensions, violent crimes or other offenses. Worcester and the Baker Administration have also considered regulating Airbnb, with the governor saying he'd like to tax Airbnb the same as hotels. When polled, WBJ readers overwhelming said these types of businesses should be regulated like any other. F L A S H P O L L UMass proposes new 120- bed psychiatric hospital UMass Memorial Health Care is pro- posing a new 120- bed psychiatric hos- pital in Worcester to cost $18 million to $20 million and open in early 2019. The hospital would be in an office building at 100 Century Drive in the Burncoat neigh- borhood and be owned and run in a part- nership with an affiliate of US HealthVest, a company that runs psychiatric hospitals in Georgia, Illinois and Washington. The proposal comes as UMass has pro- posed reducing 15 psychiatric beds in favor of more medical-surgical beds. Central Mass., MetroWest Bob's EMS shops to close Bob's Stores locations in Framingham and Franklin, and an Eastern Mountain Sports location in Northborough are slated to close as part of their parent company's bankruptcy filing. Parent company Eastern Outfitters has proposed closing 48 total locations among the Bob's and EMS chains, according to court documents filed in the bankruptcy case. That includes five Bob's and four EMS stores in Massachusetts. The stores would close promptly after bank- ruptcy court approval, according to court documents. Eastern Outfitters manages 86 total stores, with about 2,600 employees. Continued on next page How should businesses like Uber and Airbnb be regulated? As they are largely made up of individuals using their cars or houses to make extra revenue, these businesses should not be regulated. They should be regulated as much as established businesses like taxi cabs and hotels so there's a level playing field. 60% Officials should let the industry further develop before passing regulations. 21% COMMENTS: "Keep government regulations out of it. Enough is enough!" "If the competition is regulated, private drivers must be regulated as well to make a level playing field. And it's necessary for safety of the clients." "Anytime someone says there ought to be more regulations, there ought not to be. Free market works, and companies like Uber, Lyft and Airbnb are evidence of that." 19% UMass Memorial Health Care CEO Eric Dickson

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