Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area Proposal

The Worcester East Side CDC is the Community Based Development Organization that will coordinate and implement the proposed NRSA program.

The proposed strategy area is bounded on the north by the Burncoat St./Lincoln St split, on the south by Lincoln Square, on the west by Rte 290, and on the east by Green Hill Park. The main commercial corridor is a shorter, concentrated span of Lincoln St., bounded on the north by the Burncoat St./Lincoln St split and on the south by Sturgis St. A map of the proposed area is enclosed.

As indicated both in the RKG study and in the published 2000 U.S. Census data, which lists the qualifying census tracts, the residential population in the identified area is predominantly low-income. The RKG study also identifies the need for increased home ownership opportunities in this sub-market to reverse the decline that had been occurring.

The CDC has continually sought community input through its outreach with residents and businesses throughout the area. Neighborhood and business associations regularly bring together varied populations that express their concerns and priorities. The CDC always uses the information gathered from these meetings to direct the focus of its programs.

The ComNet project administered through the Worcester Regional Research Bureau has been ongoing in this strategy area for the past 5 years. It has been a successful tool to identify the assets of the area, the priorities of the community, and the issues and concerns to be addressed. It has monitored progress over these years and continually reviewed and renewed its findings with updated information. Much of these results have been at the base of planning for this proposal.

The CDC has been focusing its research, outreach and planning efforts in this neighborhood for the past year in anticipation of this new focus on strategy areas. Through regular contact with UMass Memorial Health Care, Genesis Club, Inc., various neighborhood associations, small businesses, tenants of the Sprinkler Factory Building and key community leaders, there has been an ongoing dialogue to identify the neighborhood’s assets, to prioritize the community’s needs and to formulate the strategies that will have the maximum positive impact for the area. This broad mixture of stakeholders has been enlisted to ensure that an inclusive range of perspectives and ideas are brought to the forefront throughout the process.

The CDC will remain the conduit for the planning and implementation of these strategies. The collaborative nature of this endeavor, coupled with the potential for major improvements for the residents and businesses of the area are the key to sustained involvement throughout the 4 year plan. Tangible results in housing, business development, job training and employment opportunities will demonstrate the power of this initiative and the strength of each individual member’s participation.

The CDC has always been a leader in its ability to collaborate on all levels. The mission and success of the organization have centered on this principal. Many of the identified partners have been working with the CDC on various issues for several years. This initiative is not as much new as it is an expansion of much that is already in place. The CDC is confident that those who become involved will remain committed throughout the entire program.

149 Belmont St. Homeless Housing with Supportive Services : 10 Rental Units

This joint venture with Genesis Club develops affordable housing for a very needy and underserved population. We are creating 10 studio apartments for homeless adults who have suffered from mental disabilities, but who have successfully undergone treatment and are able to live alone. All tenants will be members of Genesis Club, eight of whom will be Dept. of Mental Health certified. All will be employed and provided with on-site management and supportive services.

The building will be fully restored, with a gut-renovation of all three floors to be completed. New kitchens, bathrooms, heating, plumbing and electric systems will be installed. The front of the building will be redesigned to recapture the classic bow front style that originally existed. All renovations will comply with the HUD Housing Quality Standards, and will receive Energy Star certification.

This project addresses the critical need for this type of housing in a location and in a building that are best suited for the purpose. The property is directly on a WRTA bus route, in very close proximity to a hospital, in walking distance to stores, and less than ½ mile from the Genesis Club main office. The CDC will oversee the full development of the property, and ongoing maintenance upon completion. The Genesis Club will ensure full occupancy with their clients, and provide ongoing management and supportive services for the tenants.

The project is fully funded with $985,843 from the state HOME program, Facilities Consolidation Fund and Affordable Housing Trust Fund; $250,000 in city HOME funds and $150,000 in McKinney funds. We are in the process of closing on these funds.

All pre-development work, final architectural drawings and the bid process are complete. We have selected a contractor and expect to begin construction by the end of spring, with occupancy by winter.

Bell Hill Home Ownership Initiative-Phase III : 14 Units – 7 Homeownership 7 Rental

The CDC has site control of all of the properties for this project. The project is a partnership with UMass Memorial Health Care, which is making available two of the properties to be renovated. All units are targeted to low-income households.

All pre-development work and preliminary architectural plans are complete. Funding applications have been submitted to the state for an amount of $1.4 million. The application is under review and pending. We look to continue work on this project throughout the year. The properties include:

123 Eastern Ave. (2 units) – Located directly between 121 and 125 Eastern Ave. and across the street from #116, completed in Phases I & II. Currently vacant & distressed. 4BR, 1.5 bath owner’s unit & 1BR, 1bath rental unit. Renovation.

70 Laurel St. (6 units) - 14,000 sq. ft. lot located directly across the street from our newly created neighborhood park. Currently vacant and distressed. Three 2-family buildings each with 2BR, 1.5 bath owner’s unit & 1BR rental. Ample off-street parking. New Construction.

79 East Central St. (3 units) – Located next door to 89 E. Central St (completed in Phase II). Although currently a three-unit building with a nice yard, the third-floor unit is not a very livable design. The second & third floors would be combined to create a large 4BR, 2 bath owner’s unit with the first floor as a 1BR rental. Renovation.

3 Rockport Rd. (2 units) – Currently vacant, distressed UMass Memorial Health Care provided property. 3BR owner’s unit with 1BR rental. Off-street parking and a yard. Renovation.

3 Channing St. (2 units) – Currently vacant, distressed UMass Memorial Health Care provided property. 4BR, 2 bath owner’s unit with a 1BR rental. Off-street parking and a yard. Renovation.

Another significant outcome of the Bell Hill 3 initiative will be the creation of a fund to promote home ownership and home improvement throughout the community. The CDC, UMass Memorial Health Care, the City of Worcester (EONS), DHCD and the Mass. Housing Partnership have been working to create a fund to provide soft-second mortgages, down payment assistance and low-interest home improvement loans for residents and potential home owners. UMass will contribute $250,000 that will be used to leverage additional funds from the above sources to establish this pool. Once established, the pool will be available to households citywide for the purchase and/or improvement of homes. It will be a useful tool that will enable many more households to take part in the overall neighborhood revitalization strategy.

The down payment assistance and soft-second mortgages will make it possible to serve those in income brackets even lower than 80%. The low-interest improvement loans will give owners a way to repair and upgrade their homes at an affordable cost. This will spread through the neighborhoods the incentive to make improvements, thereby engaging the effort of many more people and at many more locations. The visual and economic effect on the community will be significant.

This pool will be available for use with the purchase of homes in Bell Hill 3 project.

This site is comprised of 5 individual lots that equal approximately ¾ of an acre of land in the midst of the designated Strategy Area. Currently the corner lot has a deteriorating structure that requires demolition. The other lots are vacant, trash strewn and a problem for the neighborhood. The CDC has site control of this property in the form of a valid Purchase & Sale Agreement. The proposal is to develop a combination of single and two-family homes for mixed-income households. The project would involve all new construction, and include off-street parking and backyards. There have been ongoing legal issues that are currently under court review. Although this has continued to delay the sale, the CDC and its attorney are confident of a favorable resolution of this situation.

Priority Property Identification & Land Banking Strategies for Future Housing Development

The CDC continually researches the availability of properties within its service area to remain abreast of any new opportunities that might arise. It targets key properties and acquires them whenever possible to hold for future development projects. Currently the CDC is pursuing parcels throughout the designated strategy area for this purpose. The availability and status are regularly monitored. The current breakdown of available property is as follows:

Properties for Sale	Both Commercial& Residential	Residential Units	Commercial Units	Total Units
46	2	132	4	136

45 Westminster St. and 12 Forbes St. are two vacant lots that the CDC acquired because they surround a third critical property located on the corner at 47 Westminster St. This site houses a vacant 4 unit building that has been a problem in the neighborhood for years. This property is coupled on a deed with another large, vacant building in the neighborhood located at 10 Windsor St. Together with the two currently owned lots the CDC would look to create 12 units of rental housing with off-street parking. Both properties are currently unavailable because of a court injunction placed upon them. The CDC has continued to monitor the status of these parcels and awaits the opportunity to acquire them to complete the package and develop the plans.

Another troublesome property that has been identified by neighborhood groups repeatedly is located at 141-143 Eastern Ave. These two abutting vacant lots have been the focus of attention in the neighborhood because of their poor condition and lack of maintenance. Many Earth Day and other community organized clean-ups have occurred on the site. Recently the City of Worcester was awarded them through the Land Court process. The CDC plans to submit a proposal to develop 6 units of home ownership here with off-street parking.

Two important parcels located in the heart of the Lincoln St. commercial corridor are 243 & 249 Lincoln St. They incorporate a mixed business/residential use that is comprised of 5 businesses, 7 apartments and a parking lot. The potential for these properties is great, given the plans for the overall revitalization of this commercial strip. The combined sale price for the two properties is approximately $1 million. The CDC has viewed the site and is evaluating its feasibility.

Adjacent to the identified strategy area, but equally as important to the community are properties located at 267 & 316 Shrewsbury St. that are for sale and of interest to the CDC. The CDC has been looking to acquire a property that could combine its offices with retail and/or housing. Both of these sites have a mixed-use potential and are centrally located. The sale prices are in the $850,000 price range. The CDC has viewed both of them and is determining the feasibility of each. A project of this sort would add significantly to the strategy area effort in that it will create a new community center that will benefit all of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Other addresses coming to auction that are of interest to the CDC include 10-12 Hooper St. and 19 Forbes St.

A critical component of the housing work has been the ongoing first-time homebuyer, financial and post-purchase counseling that the CDC offers to the community. This program educates potential buyers and assists them throughout the entire purchase process. Vital information in all aspects of home purchase and ownership is covered. Potential buyers are connected with Down Payment Assistance Funds and mortgage lenders. New homeowners are assisted with the location, screening and establishment of tenancies for their rental units. They continue to receive post-purchase counseling to ensure their continued success as new homeowners. Additional technical assistance is offered in areas such as Financial and Property Management, Tenant/Landlord Issues, Lead Paint/Home Improvement Loans and Home/Apartment Searches.

This past year the CDC has provided a half-time counselor to the NeighborWorks Home Ownership Center. The CDC counselor, Val Tourtellotte is fully trained and certified in all necessary aspects of the programs offered at the center. The coming year will see this position upgraded to full-time in order to meet the growing need throughout the community. As part of this increase and also as part of the partnership with UMass Memorial Health Care a program will be offered at a location within the hospital’s facility. This will serve to broaden the range of households that will have access to the program.

For the past year the CDC has collaborated with the Worcester Artist Group (a 501c3 non-profit), the Studios, FireWorks, the Well, and other small businesses located within the Sprinkler Factory Building, located at 38 Harlow Street, to develop the site as an economic engine for the artists and artisans located here. Currently there are approximately 40 different entrepreneurial ventures working independently on-site. The common goal has been to create a centralized mechanism among these enterprises that will enable each individual entity to market and sell its products more effectively.

The Worcester Artist Group serves part of that function today. The gallery/performance space is the focal point for ongoing activities and programs within the building. The monthly exhibitions highlight and offer for sale the work of a broad range of artists and artisans, many of whom are oftentimes located on-site. The performances and other programs attract audiences with an extensive range in age, ethnicity and economic backgrounds. All of this not only benefits the individual artists on display or performing, it also generates a great deal of traffic throughout the building for the other tenants. Funding from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Worcester Cultural Commission, the Stoddard Charitable Trust and the United Congregational Church were awarded to realize these goals.

With this in mind the group set forward to promote the activities of the site and to attract new tenants to locate in it. A major exhibition and open studio event was planned. The goal was to create an exhibition that would display the array of work created by artists and artisans in the building. As part of the opening weekend of the event there would be a day of open studios throughout the building.

In order for this to occur it would be necessary to reopen a corridor that connects two separate sections of the building. This would enable the free flow of traffic to all parts of the structure and create the ability for an indoor center. This goal was realized recently with volunteer efforts.

This opening event occurred on the weekend of February 12^th, with the exhibition running through the month. The weekend was a huge success. The event attracted hundreds of people both on Saturday and Sunday. There was extensive media coverage and significant public exposure. There was an immediate response among some who decided to move their ventures into the building. The sales that occurred for a large portion of the tenants reflected the public interest and economic viability of what was underway.

The plan for the coming year is to attract new tenants to fill the remaining vacant spaces. The setting is ideal for small enterprises to collaborate within a central location to enhance the overall success of each individual entity. Recruitment of a restaurant and a café is a major priority. Also about to open is the Festival Theatre Company with a theater that seats approximately sixty for stage performances.

The CDC, Genesis Club, and the Worcester Artist Group are attempting to establish a collaborative on-site shop that would offer for sale the products created by artists in the building and others who are clients of Genesis Club. The shop would create jobs for some and sales for many. The potential for additional business and job development that will result from this endeavor is great.

Joint marketing and advertising campaigns will continue to target the area county wide. Creative partnerships are being explored regularly in an attempt to utilize the remaining vacant space for ventures that will maximize public attraction to the site. The success already seen and the partnerships in place fortify the base for the continued economic growth of this property well into the future.

In conjunction with this initiative the CDC is looking to promote and interconnect the activities occurring in the strip of businesses along Lincoln Street whose center is at the top of Harlow Street. To this end the CDC is looking at the potential purchase of two mixed-use properties currently for sale. In combination, the two abutting properties house 5 businesses, 7 apartments and a parking lot. The combined sale prices total $1 million. A redevelopment of these sites would further stabilize the street and establish a solid anchor for the ownership and management of this commercial and housing complex.

The implementation of a façade improvement program to this area would improve greatly the appearance and viability of these businesses. The CDC would be the catalyst and liaison for this initiative that would ultimately include many partners. The CDC will seek sources of matching funding to add to those to be made available by the city. The advantage of this commercial corridor for this type of program is that the bulk of it exists within a very defined and limited stretch of Lincoln St. This allows for a very dramatic improvement to the visual impact and economic viability of the many businesses located here without

In all of the CDC’s business development activities mentioned, it plans to engage the resources and programs of the Center for Women & Enterprise. Individual and group consulting and training will be employed as a tool for each business owner or group to use. Loan packaging necessary for the façade program or general business improvements will be part of the services offered.

The CDC will continue to be a resource for this type of assistance both on an individual and group basis. The partnerships already established through our years of running this type of program have grown and been focused to identify the most effective means to achieve tangible results. One conclusion was that there is a need for training programs to produce qualified employees to businesses and learning opportunities for those seeking employment.

With UMass Memorial Health Care the CDC is looking at the development of training programs offered through the hospital for fields that have excessive vacancies and turnover. These could include nursing assistant and home health aide. The CDC would look to raise revenue to offset the tuition cost to low-income individuals for these programs. The hospital would provide the jobs to those who successfully complete their studies.

The CDC’s work on its Youth Employment Program will broaden to include the Genesis Club’s Young Adult Initiative. Once again the goal is to involve many parties in an effort in order to increase the potential for significant success. Although still in its early stages, the CDC seeks to integrate certain resources and opportunities that exist among the Worcester Youth Center, Pride Productions, You, Inc. and Genesis Club. Common goals, methods and clientele warrant a collaborative effort on the part of these programs.

A need that exists throughout the school system is for additional after-school programming fro students. In partnership with the Worcester Art Museum, programs and activities in art will be offered at neighborhood schools that include the Harlow Street School, City View School and the Belmont Community School. The CDC would be the conduit for this effort and would seek to leverage additional revenue to support it.

A program to address the use toxic chemicals in the home and in certain businesses is proposed to be offered in the community through a partnership with the Regional Environmental Council. The tenants on the Sprinkler Factory Building are a prime group to address because of the diversity of enterprises housed there. The potential for a significantly positive impact on toxic use reduction with this population is great. A similar program for residential households is also planned. A successful one was run already in Bell Hill involving residents, the schools and local vendors.

Another important opportunity offered by the Worcester Art Museum is their community art program that creates public art with the collaboration of other organizations, neighborhood residents and the museum’s artist-in-residence. The CDC will look into the development of one of these projects. Currently under review is a potential mural for an open wall in the business strip area on Lincoln Street.

Community gardens have been an ongoing project of the CDC in conjunction with the Regional Environmental Council, community groups and residents. The CDC proposes to acquire a parcel of land located at 9 Everard St., currently owned by the city, for this purpose. This project already has the interest of NSTAR, which would provide volunteers and equipment for the effort. Together with the previously listed groups this initiative would recapture some green space for the people of the neighborhood, and provide the means and location to concentrate positive energy for a useful purpose with meaningful results.

Another community greening program that the CDC is heading will result in new tree plantings in the area. Working with the Arbor Day Foundation and the Mass ReLeaf program the goal is to be able to plant trees in selected areas along Lincoln St. and around new CDC housing developments.

Other events that will occur will include the annual Earth Day clean-up and community lunch, done with the UMass Memorial Health Care and the Regional Environmental Council. This coming year will focus these efforts on the Strategy Area. The National Night Out celebration in August, also with UMass Memorial Health Care, will target the strategy area as well, and will provide an event with food, entertainment and information free to the public.

The Mass. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is an important stakeholder in this corridor. They have been in the neighborhood for over 20 years providing a range of services. They are committed to this initiative both as an enterprise along the commercial corridor and as a service and resource provider. Initially the CDC and MSPCC are looking to develop a playground on their site both for the use of the children and as a tool to evaluate play behavior. Other potential collaborations among MSPCC, the CDC and other organizations and institutions with shared goals are evolving.

You, Inc. is another important long-term stakeholder on Lincoln St. They are centrally located and offer a wide range of programming to youth. They are very interested to participate in this initiative. They already have committed the use of their conference space for planning meetings and of their van for activities to this project. Here too, the other potential collaborations are evolving.

A new full-time position will be created to head this initiative, to lead the business and community programs and to be the liaison among all partners. The multitude of activities will be overseen by a group of staff members, each concentrating on particular aspects of the initiative, but in a collaborative manner. The Housing Director and Housing Assistant will be directly involved with all residential and physical business development. The current part-time employment assistance manager position will shift to the business and community programs as well. The Executive Director will oversee all aspects of the initiative and lead the collaborative efforts among all groups. A part-time resource development position to seek an array of innovative sources of funding for these interconnected partnerships is under review.

Collaboration is something that the CDC does well because it begins within the organization. Staff duties overlap among programs for efficiency and diversity of perspective. All staff members are abreast of the various programs underway at the CDC and are a viable part of them. This method has proven effective and will continue with greater integration as a result of this Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area approach.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION STRATEGY AREA PROPOSAL

Bell Hill Home Ownership Initiative-Phase III : 14 Units – 7 Homeownership 7 Rental