$178M facelift planned at Worcester's Curtis Apartments in Great Brook Valley
WORCESTER — The Worcester Housing Authority this weekend unveiled a proposed $178 million redevelopment of Curtis Apartments and announced Trinity Financial — developer of the former Worcester County Courthouse in Lincoln Square — as its partner for the project.
“We are thrilled to have an opportunity to redevelop Curtis Apartments. It is long overdue,” Alex Corrales, CEO of the housing authority, said in an announcement. “This is not just an opportunity to provide our current residents better housing but also allows us to create new apartments in our efforts to address the affordable housing needs of the city.”
The project is dependent on a variety of state and federal funding programs. But Corrales said in an interview that he felt “confident” that a March 1 application to the state that outlines financing would be given “strongest consideration and hopefully approve(d).”
“I feel confident that we will have a very strong application because of the needs of the city,” Corrales said.
The proposal
Curtis Apartments is a 372-unit property built in 1951 and located in the Great Brook Valley neighborhood. Corrales said it is the second-oldest property in the authority’s holdings.
The proposal calls for the demolition and reconstruction of at least 193 apartments with frontage on Brookview Drive and Boylston Street. The plan will also build 100 new apartments, increasing the housing authority’s affordable housing stock. The apartments on Tacoma Street, which were remodeled 20 years ago, will remain intact, Corrales said.
“This is an opportunity to address the most needed units first and then, as working on those, start putting plans together for potentially what we can do for Curtis Apartments on the street side,” Corrales said.
In addition, the proposal redevelops roads in the area to make them “a little warmer and greener,” Corrales said.
“We’re looking at a property that’s over 70 years old, it really needs a makeover,” Corrales said. “This is an opportunity for us to seek funding from the state, and also partner with a developer who has the experience and expertise to carry out these projects.”
Funding
The project has already received a $50,000 state planning grant, and Corrales said the project had a $30 million commitment from the state. The majority of the remainder of the money is proposed to come from programs including state and federal low-income tax credits, infrastructure funding from MassWorks, potential ARPA funding and housing vouchers. In addition, Corrales said operations will cover some loans. The project will total at least $178 million as proposed.
A funding proposal is due March 1, and Corrales said the housing authority partnered with Trinity because the company has experience successfully applying for such funding.
“Trinity is a well-respected company that has invested in the Worcester community,’ Joseph Carlson, chairman of the WHA’s Board of Commissioners, said in the announcement. “They did remarkable work renovating the old courthouse and have a lot of experience in helping build affordable housing apartments.”
Awards are scheduled to be announced this summer.
“We are delighted to partner with the WHA,” Patrick Lee, founder and owner of Trinity Financial, said in the announcement. “They deeply care about revitalizing their developments and we feel fortunate to be part of this transformation.”
Corrales said “it was a little early in the game” to commit to a project timeline, although he expected it would take two to three years to get the funding in place and incorporate resident feedback before construction.
He said that the construction would likely involve relocating some residents but that the project partners would try to “minimize disruptions.”
“We may have to temporarily move someone to another apartment while construction is taking place, and then we would give them the opportunity and choice to return to their apartment if they so choose.”
Corrales said the project would help the housing authority address two major city goals: increase affordable housing by adding new units and update existing affordable housing opportunities.
“We hope that this is one of numerous development opportunities to come as we look at our aging portfolio and look at opportunities to develop and create more affordable housing,” Corrales said.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: $178M facelift planned at Worcester's Curtis Apartments in Great Brook Valley
