Courthouse deal: Wrong turn avoided
Sometimes, government moves slowly. In the case of the $1.2-million deal Worcester struck with a New Hampshire developer that wants to redevelop the former county courthouse, a two-week-long delay in securing City Council approval ran the risk of sending the wrong message about doing business in Worcester.
For years, Worcester officials have been working to entice more development and investment in the city, especially in and around downtown. This deal promises to shore up a key property in the Lincoln Square area by converting it into a combination of apartments and retail space. The labor coalition that raised questions about the proposed sale can claim a victory in having won a stronger commitment from the developer in hiring contractors from the region.
However, the specter of special-interest groups with strong political ties holding developers hostage in the city is a real threat, and recalls a not-so-distant past when Worcester was viewed as overly parochial and a difficult place to do business. In the courthouse case, progress delayed was not necessarily progress denied. But it was a delay that was avoidable. We hope that in future deals, private developers will not be throwing up their hands in frustration. Worcester should be proud of the numbers of recently announced private development deals. They represent the fulfillment of a long-held promise that a vision and significant public investment will catalyze private investment. It's happening, and the city needs to use the leverage it has without biting the hands of private developers that are driving this new wave of growth.
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