'Step in the right direction': Demolition begins at former Big D property at 195 Mill St.

WORCESTER — Demolition started Thursday on the vacant building at 195 Mill St.

A significant portion of the building, the former site of a Big D and Price Chopper supermarket, had already been demolished by early Thursday afternoon. An excavator and front-end loader were present at the site.

Demolition posters were spotted at the building in August. Bellingham-based demolition company Regional Industrial Services Corp. was listed as the company conducting the demolition.

Vacant for two decades, the 195 Mill St. property has been a recurring issue for city councilors and a significant topic of conversation during several election years. Residents and officials regularly refer to the property as an "eyesore" and a missed opportunity for redevelopment in an attractive part of the city.

District 5 City Council Etel Haxhiaj said in August that property owner Worcester Mill LLC had awarded a contract for abatement and demolition.

The issue of the vacant property was most recently reanimated in the race for District 5 city councilor; the district includes the Mill Street area.

Haxhiaj has taken steps intended to spur the redevelopment of the property. Candidate Jose Rivera suggested the city consider taking the property by eminent domain.

In June, Haxhiaj filed a successful order requesting that the city administration provide a recommendation on changing the zoning on the Mill Street corridor and Lakeside Avenue.

The zoning change would allow for the construction of residential buildings that are taller than three stories at 195 Mill St.

The Planning Board approved the eventual zoning recommendation from the city administration July 26. The Planning Board's recommendation was sent to the City Council's Standing Committee on Economic Development and is scheduled for discussion Oct. 24.

The City Council also approved an order from Haxhiaj in December asking the administration to look into whether the property should be designated an Urban Center Housing Tax Increment Financing zone.

A spokesperson for the city said the owner has not yet filed any plans with the city.

Haxhiaj celebrated news of the demolition in a Facebook post Thursday.

"It's GREAT to see the former Price Chopper building, aka, Big D, being demolished today," Haxhiaj said. "This is a step in the right direction."

The councilor said she will continue to work on developing the property, as well as other properties in her district such as some on Park Avenue.

"While demolition is a step in the right direction, I will continue keeping this conversation and my advocacy to redevelop this property to the forefront," Haxhiaj said. "At our last meeting, the City Manager and I spoke about the order that I had filed both to hear about how we can start the process of designation and what we can do to continue pressuring the property owner to move on this."

In an interview, Rivera also appreciated the news that the property was coming down and hoped it would be redeveloped either by Worcester Mill LLC or another party.

"The community in that area is going to be very excited to see that it's finally coming down after all these years," Rivera said.

Rivera said resident suggestions for the property include housing, a mixed-use retail option and a grocery store. He welcomed the zoning change for the property.

In the case of other vacant properties in the district, Rivera said the city needs to do anything it can to help owners and developers with the redevelopment process.

"I just think that having abandoned buildings for twenty-something years is just not the direction that we should be moving to in the future," Rivera said. "The city should have a more proactive approach as far as having these conversations with the landlords."

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Demo begins at former Big D property, 195 Mill St.