Historical Commission OKs U-Haul facility at vacant factory

A project to renovate the former Melville Shoe Co. building at 44 Hammond Road in Worcester into a U-Haul self-storage facility passed one city hurdle as the Historical Commission signed off on the project. 

The commission granted a one-year demolition delay waiver so Amerco Real Estate, the parent company of U-Haul, can repair the exterior of the building. 

Jeff Vain, a representative for the company, said the building will become a self-storage and truck rental operation. The company plans to rehab portions of the exterior, including replacing windows visible from the road and repairing other damaged windows. 

Other changes include extending a loading dock, installing two overhead doors and a garage door. 

The company will remove an old trash chute that is falling apart, Vain said. 

Vain didn’t detail the interior work or the company’s financial investment into the project. 

A mosaic depicting a worker fitting a shoe will be restored, Vain said. 

The site, at just over 2 acres, was sold to Amerco in April for $3.9 million.