Worcester’s planning board on Wednesday unanimously approved a site plan for a 197-unit apartment complex near Polar Park, despite residents’ concerns over a lack of affordable housing being built.
Boston-based GFI Partners is proposing to build a 258,582 square-foot apartment complex at the corner of Green Island Boulevard and Lamartine Street. The six-story building will provide 58 studio apartments, 100 one-bedroom apartments, 19 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments, according to Assistant Chief Development Officer Michelle Smith.
The next steps for the development are to prepare the closing of the property before construction can begin later this year, according to GFI Senior Project Manager William Buckley.
Buckley estimates construction will be completed by 2027, he previously told MassLive.
Though the complex adds 197 new units to the city’s housing stock, none of them will be listed as affordable housing.
Developers building complexes with 12 or more units are encouraged to create apartments for those with lower incomes as part of the complex under Worcester’s inclusionary zoning ordinance.
Developers can opt out of the affordable housing requirement by making a one-time payment equal to 3% of construction costs. GFI will pay more than $1,000,000 to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust instead of building the affordable housing units, Buckley previously told MassLive.
Mildred Martinez, a single mom who lives in Worcester, told the planning board her worries that she and other Worcester residents are being pushed out due to unaffordable rates.
“It’s a travesty that residents that are investing in the community, that live in the community, that have ties to the community, simply would not be afforded the same opportunity because the rates would just be astronomical,” she said.
Another member of the public questioned how not having affordable apartments helps Worcester residents who can’t afford market-rate housing.
Dina Tedeski, another Worcester resident, asked the planning board if it could do anything to encourage GFI to build the affordable housing.
Board member Anthony Dell’Aera also expressed disappointment in the decision to not build affordable apartments. He told the residents, however, that the planning board does not have the power to change the developer’s decision.
“I would say if this is an issue that people feel strongly about… then perhaps efforts should be directed toward the City Council to address the ordinance so that the fee in lieu of isn’t an option,” Dell’Aera said.
