February 06, 2008

Downtown Worcester

Just walked downtown and noticed that Emilia's, small restaurant on Pleasant Street can now be added to my list. I have worked downtown since 1986 so I feel I have a pretty good perspective on downtown. Maybe this has something to do with one of Jahn's comments the other day about Portland Street and the surrounding areas, but this is the absolute worst that I have seen downtown Worcester.

I am not comparing downtown with Harrington Corner days of yester-year, but back in the mid to late 80's downtown was a hopping place and somewhat exciting for a person out of college starting his career. Granted it was not Boston, but it was not bad. Can not imagine starting a career now walking around downtown every day?

Maybe, I hope it does, things like the Hanover Theatre, the new restaurant on Pearl Street, some movement with City Square and the Mayo Group will change this, but we need to call a spade a spade. Downtown Worcester is in the worst shape that I have seen it the 20 years that I have worked down here.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is the OUTRAGE over the disaster that this city has become?

Downtown restaurants fold and the Telegram keeps the feel-good stories coming.

Employers move out and no one care to notice a trend.

We are sitting on the precipice of having to pick up millions of dollars in operating deficits for an abandoned airport. Who cares?

Springfield gets air service before us and no one blinks.

The city govt is asleep at the switch.

Anonymous said...

Last guy out, turn off the lights.

Bill Randell said...

I do not mean to be negative, but the slogans were great for a while a built some positive momentum. Now we need to do with the reality.

Downtown Worcester is hurting badly and we need to come up with action, to replace rhetoric now.
Something like the monies for the Fitchburg transit would have been nice for our commuter line?

Anonymous said...

Worcester has nothing to call thier own, except maybe the DCU center. Building stores will have little impact because; 1) We have a wary economy, foreclosures are up and people are more worried about paying bills than shopping b)The surrounding smaller communities are starting to build up and are containing everything residents need. For example, Millbury Shop's, much better than any shopping center Worcester has. They have better restaurants and stores. Auburn has a revitalized mall and all the amenities one would need, what does Worcester have that will draw people away from Auburn? I just went to the new Home Depot in Oxford. There are several lots around it that are being developed into restaurants and stores. An employee even said that a WalMart super center was going to be built across the street. With development on the rise outside the city, there is nothing to draw visitors into the city. People are finding everything they need without leaving their communities. Worcester needs to make the city attractive. With several major colleges, UMASS Med, DCU center and an airport capable of handling passenger and corporate traffic, they have a good foundation. Now it's just time to build it up to attract a customer base.

Anonymous said...

Travelling down Main Street Worcester it would be hard pressed to find anyone willing to open a business or buy a condo.

I admire Bill's support of Worcester, but wouldn't blame him if he decided to move to greener pastures.

Anonymous said...

Wild Will..some observations and experience;

Start on the Street moving to Park Ave, the St. Paddy's Parade going down Park Ave..the police did everything they could to keep the Canal Diggers 5Km away from downtown

The City and I don't mean just politicoes and administration..but the entire city does little to promote it..they give the Latin festival a ton of grief..I am no fan of that festival due to the crap that happens after it but it is something that could be a plus if promoted properly and the Latino leaders in this city (are there any) showed some leadership

I busted my ass to get that road race toyo go thru downtown and post race got many positive responses from folks who were delighted to be particpating in an event that went thru the downtown..that is how it happens Will..some entrepenuers gotta take the lead..unfortunately this city is lacking in them and just driving around proves it..I don't care what Mike Perotto say's on his Perspective Show about so much to do in this city..there just isn't

I spent 87.9% of my time promoting outside this city for the road race-working to put a shine on Worcester..it is a waste of time working the Worcester crowd-they have given up..we had a Worcester crowd but that is because of the important folks involved.

I'll say it again and agin..until this city gets some strong urban pols and does a real push outside the city to bring in folks who are looking for housing value, the intimacy of a small vibrant urban community like Somerville & Haverhill in then we are dead..the current urban population hanging out here is scaring to many who have jobs, education, a real interest in children other than creating them away to other communities

And as stated before..our Congressman has his heart in the right place but we need him banging the drum for more business and programs for the Middle Class and less on food stamps when speaking to Congress and important folks like Fed Chief Bernanke..

Anonymous said...

Funny how everyone likes to blame Congress, but yet we all like our Congressman Havana Jim Mc Govern........it is not a question of who's a good guy and who aint...............McGovern is a huge part of the problem.............you wanna get the human debris outta Downtown.............then tell Mc Govern to stop promoting the over building of low income housing in Worcester with funds from Washington

We have too much already and there are 100's more units online now and many of them are already permitted and they will be built b/c it's government money from Washing ton thats building them
A few that come to mind.

1. The old Institutional Linen Laundry on Mason St.

2. The old Furniture store on Main & Chandler.

3. Crompton Knowles biulding on Grand St. Currently out to bid. If you wanna see bid rigging in this city.....watch the outcome of this auction. Vegas says isnt even giving a line on this bid .......but the winner will be Main South Community Dev'ment Corporation.

4. Piedmont St at Main. There were 4 or 5 units of townhouse ( rowhouse) style apts there.......anyone care to guess how many units Worcester Common Ground is going to squeeze on to the site?

5. The old Piano Factory on Mayfield St near Main. Again Worcester Common Ground will squeeze 40 lbs of ++++ into a shopping bag made to hold 10 lbs.


THIS CANNOT GO ON.....NO ONE IS LISTENING TO ME...THERE /SB OUTRAGE.!!!!!!!!!

The city allows the continued building of this low income, high density land use, residential constr. and it WILL bankrupt the school dept and then the city.

The city has no business model....everyone cries about getting a solid middle class back to downtown.....then we allow all sorts of extraneous low income housing to be built..........I mean WTH......this stuff is 2nd grade math.........overly dense housing constr will send too many kids into teh school system and the property taxes collected from this housing will come no where near what it costs the city just to send school the kids.

BTW a burgeoning lower class is also inconsistent with a financially viable airport in case no one noticed. The state mandates that we have 10% of out housing stock "affordable" whatever the hell thats means? Years ago we had 13% "affordable housing" and many units have been built since then.

Time for Shrewsbury, Holden Paxton, etc to get their housing stock up to the 10% affordablity threshold.

I may file petition with the state to have my part of Worcester secede and form and charter a new and separte municipality.

Bill Randell said...

swear to god I am not Jahn


Bill Randell

Anonymous said...

Just to dispel any rumors that may exist re: dual personalities posting on here......

I am seriously thinking of calling for the closing of Worc Airport......either "short term temporarily" (whatever that means!) until we get our financial house in order ........or permanently....

It maybe cheaper to pay off the debt in the long run........but I dont have all the numbers in front of me.

The cash burn up there CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED at this time & Massport IMO is no where on the horizon.

Let Fitchburg, Gardner, Southbridge, Oxford, Sterling, and others take up the slack.

Bill Randell said...

Jahn:

At this point I may join your side to close ORH.

Bill