Foreclosed Worcester manufacturing site to become 90 apartments

The vacant and forclosed site of former Worcester manufacturer Creative Paper and Packaging will become a 90-unit apartment complex after the project was approved by the city Planning Board on Wednesday night.

Botany Bay Construction’s plans call for one-and-two-bedroom apartments in 11 multi-family low-rise buildings at 261 Clover St. 

Aside from snow storage and parking, the board had little questions for Bontany Bay. The Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals granted necessary variances last month.

The property and other nearby parcels were rezoned earlier this year to allow for such a development.

The 124,000-square-foot building, however, has been vacant and was foreclosed on by the city due to unpaid taxes.

Worcester-based Bontany Bay previously bid to build on the lot, with an agreement to buy it from the city for $52,500 once it received building approvals. The city has estimated remediation and demolition costs to be more than $1 million. 

The property was last assessed this year for $1.48 million.

Botany Bay owns other residential complexes in the city, including Botany Bay Apartments, Center Hill Apartments, Hemlock Harbour Apartments and Millbrook Apartments.