Cranshaw breaks ground on affordable housing in Worcester

November 18, 2022 - Construction Design & Engineering
Shown (from left) are: Dan Donahue, state representative; Tim Murray, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce president; Michael Moore,
state senator; Candy Mero-Carlson, District 2 councilor, city of Worcester; Harry Kokkinis, president and owner, Table Talk Pies;
Richard Mazzocchi, partner and managing director, Boston Capital Development; Joseph Petty, mayor of Worcester; Eric Batista,
acting city manager, city of Worcester; Angela Meehan, Eastern Bank vice president.

Worcester, MA Cranshaw Construction has officially broken ground on the first phase of a planned multi-phase mixed-use development at 120 Washington St. Cranshaw celebrated the milestone alongside city elected officials, developer Boston Capital Development and Worcester-based architect Benoit Design at a groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers included mayor Joseph Petty, Worcester District 2 councilor Candy Mero-Carlson, acting Worcester city manager Eric Batista, Boston Capital Development partner and managing director Rich Mazzocchi and Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s president and CEO Timothy Murray.

“This will be the first phase of a multi-phase master plan that is going to include 83 units all of which will be affordable housing at below 60% of area median income (AMI),” said mayor Petty. “This is a marquee space that will help serve as a gateway to the Canal District and Polar Park.” He went on to characterize the project as located in “a really vibrant part of our city which is going to include 1,500 s/f of retail and the reconstruction of Spruce St.” Future phases will include additional retail space and approximately 300 more units of housing.

Crenshaw Team (from left) are: Ben Burgess, construction superintendent; Chris Iannelli, principal; Travis Smith, project manager

Batista said, “This level of affordability is one of the most critical needs facing our city and the Commonwealth. We’re also appreciative that Boston Capital Development has committed above and beyond the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulatory requirements to provide 11 accessible units which is another dire need facing our community.” The project includes nine fully accessible units and two visual/hearing impaired units.

“We are proud to be a part of this important residential project in Worcester,” said Chris Iannelli, principal of Cranshaw. “Cranshaw has been working on this project with the city and Boston Capital for the past year and we are excited to start construction.”

The seven-story structural steel building includes one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and is expected to open in early 2024. The project sits on 1.5 acres of a larger four-acre parcel acquired from Table Talk Pies which relocated its production and distribution facility within the city.

The project team also includes Bohler Engineering, GZA, Shepherd Engineering, Seaman Engineering Corp., and Johnson Structural.