Development around the ballpark may be delayed. But the development would never have happened were it not for the ballpark. A catch-22.
Editor's Note:
Polar Park is a great fan experience. To say development would never happen if not for ballpark???
Get use to hearing this mantra more going forward as we pay millions each year out of General Fund to meet bond payments on Polar Park.
Maybe commenter should read this post
This parcel consists of 17 acres right off Route 290 and 146.Feldco Development emerged with conceptual plans to turn the site into a $55 million mix of retail, office and residential components. Feldco wanted to model the site after Eagle Square, a development it did in Providence.
The only thing that was needed was a zoning change from manufacturing to business-general, BG-6, in order to build a $55 million complex of shops, offices and condominiums. The Worcester Planning Board rejected the zone change, Feldco left and the parcel remains vacant.
Comments
Yes she did and I personally did not agree with at all at the time.
Mfg base has left the city and was not coming back.
Still a huge fan of Konnie, but she got this wrong....
The Canal District was growing organically and independent of any assistance from the City with the exception of maybe the paving of the streets. I just did a Google Map and am looking at the businesses and residences that were developed well before the ball park, the Worcester Public Market, the Crompton Collective/Birch Tree Bread building, the Ice Rink, Lock 50/Russo's etc. all of which came on line well before the ball park. There has been enough development that one could reasonably say that since there is a proven track record it would continue into the future. Residential units seem clustered around Union Station which was probably what the City planned for and what Candy Carlson has some concern about now because parking is becoming a problem.
Finally, even in light of the unhoused, human excrement and hypodermic needle issue the Canal District grew. This issue lingering for so long was partly caused by the City burying their head in the sand or intentionally turning a blind eye on an issue they did not wish to deal with.
On a serious note I was speaking with someone who just attended a game and had a great time, with the exception of the weather. He told me about bumping into high school classmates of ours that neither one of us has seen in years. Polar Park has become a social venue but I still do no think it is a good expenditure of public funds especially where there are so many other needs unfunded in the City, Burncoat High being up there on the top of the list followed closely by street paving. Finally, have you found out why the WooSox do not pay taxes?
At the arrests of students by wpd during the protests not long ago