Nine-story high-rise proposed at former Canal District site of Fairway Beef

Image | RODE Architects of Boston, as submitted to City of Worcester A rendering of the proposed nine-story high-rise slated for 44 Grafton St. in Worcester

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By Timothy Doyle

AKROS Development of Boston is proposing a 90,000-square-foot mixed-use skyscraper with 105 apartments at the former site of Fairway Beef, which operated in the Canal District for 75 years.

The structure at 44 Grafton St. and 102 Temple St. will offer 1,000 square feet of commercial space, according to plans submitted to Worcester Zoning Board of Appeals for its Monday meeting.

AKROS, represented by Worcester law firm Bowditch and Dewey, is requesting the number of parking spaces required by city ordinance, 118 to 125, be reduced to 72.

The materials submitted to the City include a presentation for a space-saving automated, stacking parking system by PARKPLUS of Fairview, New Jersey.

The property is under agreement for sale, but according to the Worcester District Registry of Deeds, the properties still are owned by Jaffee Realty LLC, registered to John Sigel, who is one of the former owners of Fairway Beef.

AKROS Development, founded in 2021, is owned by Zak Kiritsy, who according to the AKROS Development website was born in Worcester and attended Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury. Previously, Kiritsy spent seven months as chief development officer for Cambridge construction firm WoHo Systems, Inc. and was an associate at New York real estate firm The Related Cos.’ Boston office, according to LinkedIn.

Fairway Beef closed suddenly in July 2021 after 75 years.