218

A developer is proposing a 218-unit residential building for a block at 225 Shrewsbury St. and 68 Albany St. The seven-story building will be behind the current shopping plaza at the site. Lundgren Equity Partners of Auburn is proposing the building, which will ring in at approximately 205,000 square feet, according to an application before the city Zoning Board of Appeals. According to the application, the majority of the existing shopping plaza at the Shrewsbury Street parcel will remain and parking will be reconfigured to provide approximately 178 spaces. The plaza includes Mexicali Cantina Grill.

44

A Boston developer is looking to convert the site of the former Fairway Beef building at 44 Grafton St. into a nine-story housing and commercial building. Plans to demolish the building, presented by AKROS Development, went before the city Zoning Board of Appeals.  Fairway Beef, a supplier to families and others for more than seven decades, closed suddenly last summer. According to the meeting agenda, AKROS Development is planning an approximately 90,000-square-foot building on the site.  Plans call for about 105 units of housing, about 1,000 square feet of commercial space and a parking garage with 72 spaces.

01366

Petersham — ZIP code 01366 — was first settled by Europeans in 1733, and was officially incorporated in April 1754. Today, the 68.3 square miles on the shore of the Quabbin Reservoir holds a population of roughly 1,200. According to realtor.com, three single-family homes are available for purchase in Petersham. A fourth house, presently under contract, is the lowest priced in a one-bedroom and one-bath in 672 square feet on a 4.2-acre lot listed for $119,000. The lowest priced available is a three-bedroom, 1.5 bath, 1,386-square-foot home on a 1.8-acre lot listed for $349,900.

35

The Family Health Center of Worcester has laid off 35 workers, furloughed 15 and has closed branches in Southbridge and Webster. The Queen Street agency, which provides care for income-eligible patients, has been dealing with financial hardships, as well as a malware attack, according to CEO Louis Brady. Laurel Balach, a doctor at the health center, said staffers felt blindsided by the decision, which was shared with the staff Sept. 1. Brady said he anticipates further layoffs. Community health centers run on several revenue streams, including grants, with the largest portion of the budget coming from Medicaid reimbursement set by the state, he said.

37

Two longtime Worcester businesses could be vacating their home at 37 Mechanic St., which has a sale pending. Ahmad Gha, who owns Perfect Fit Tailoring and has rented in the building for the past 35 years, will be relocating his business around the corner to 250 Commercial St. with an Oct. 1 opening slated. Meanwhile, Paul Jennette, owner of Central Shoe Repair, which has occupied the site for 20 years, mulls whether to relocate his shop or retire. A lot is uncertain because Jennette doesn’t know who the building’s next owner will be and if that person will want him to stay or go.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Central Mass. by the Numbers