For Immediate Release: 10/20/2009 4:07 pm
Worcester, MA (October 20, 2009) - City officials broke ground today to begin construction of the Gardner Street Extension, soon-to-be named Janice Nadeau Way, within the South Worcester Industrial Park. A seven-term City Councilor for District 4, Ms. Janice Nadeau worked tirelessly for neighborhood preservation and empowerment, affordable housing, public safety and low residential tax rates.
"This is a fitting tribute to a woman who served our community for many years," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "The goals of this large-scale project align with the causes that Ms. Nadeau advocated for-eliminating blight, promoting sustainable development, creating employment opportunities and business growth."
The new roadway extension will be constructed from Southgate Street to Armory Street. Upon completion, Janice Nadeau Way will allow for improved access and wider turning radius for large trucks coming in and out of the industrial park. Southgate Place and a portion of Armory Street will be incorporated into distinct parcels that will be available for future development within the industrial park.
Demolition of the decaying buildings located at 17 Southgate Place and 25 Southgate Street were completed last month.
The South Worcester Industrial Park is an 11-acre brownfield site. Through tax title, the City currently owns approximately eight acres within the redevelopment area. Approximately $7 million in local, state, and federal funding has been secured for this project.
Past uses at the site include foundry, cast metal manufacturing, textile machinery manufacturing and auto salvage, all which contributed to the site's existing environmental contamination. The City has invested in improvements to roads and parcel development, as well as environmental remediation and demolition of vacant buildings in an effort to create pad-ready development parcels for clean, light manufacturing and industrial use.
Most recently, PharmaSphere LLC was selected to purchase a 75,000-square-foot parcel within the South Worcester Industrial Park. The company intends to build a 50,000-square-foot bio-processing facility at the 49 Canterbury Street parcel. The City is currently working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to secure a Section 108 Loan for the equipment.
Janice and her family lived at 67 Southgate Street for more than 30 years. After Janice's death in 2004, her children sold the property. Four years later, the home was lost to foreclosure in the thick of the subprime mortgage crisis. The new owners of 67 Southgate Street, real estate professional Jane Gasek and her son, Jim, purchased the property in April with a plan to modernize and rehabilitate the property. Architect Dan Benoit drew-up plans for the new owners. Through the City's recently launched Neighborhood Stabilization Program, the Gaseks will receive HOME funds to assist in its rehabilitation.
This effort will be complemented by the complete transformation of the former City Builders Lot at the corner of Southgate and Armory Streets, a few blocks from the Nadeau's former home. After demolition and environmental remediation, new construction of 25 housing units will begin. The long-awaited $6.2 million Southgate Place Project is now possible through the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit Exchange Program, announced last week by Governor Deval Patrick.
"The Patrick-Murray Administration is working hard to take advantage of every dollar and tax credit that the federal stimulus legislation has made available to promote economic development throughout the Commonwealth," said Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray. "I look forward to seeing the jobs and housing that development of Southgate Place will produce and am confident it will be a great benefit to the city."
The South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Center is the sponsor of the Southgate Place Project. Mechanics Guild, an experience firm, will be the developer.
