WRA has had a part in several key development projects in the city, including the Polar Park baseball stadium and the attempted redevelopment of the Denholm Building.
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Sherri Pitcher has been named the chair of the influential Worcester Redevelopment Authority.
Currently the director of marketing and communications for Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Pitcher replaces Worcester attorney Michael Angelini as the authority’s chair. Angelini’s term expired in April.
Pitcher was appointed by Worcester City Manager Eric Batista. Pitcher was already a member of the WRA prior to her appointment as chair.
WRA has had a part in several key development projects in the city, including the Polar Park baseball stadium, the attempted redevelopment of the Denholm Building, and commercial operations at Union Station.
Prior to joining Notre Dame Academy, Pitcher worked as senior director of marketing and business development at Worcester-based construction firm Fontaine Bros. Pitcher served as the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s senior director of business development from 2014 to 2017.
Batista’s appointment of Pitcher was announced during the WRA’s May 14 meeting. Jackson Restrepo, business partner at Woo City Property Management and Restrepo Properties, was elected vice chair. Nicholas Pepper, who serves as WRA’s union representative, was voted secretary.
WRA is a five-member, state-enabled urban renewal agency, tasked with driving redevelopment in parts of the City that are part of a state‑approved urban renewal plan boundary.
Four members are appointed by the city manager, while a fifth is appointed by the governor. One of the City-appointed seats is currently vacant, according to the City’s website. Worcester Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn serves as WRA’s CEO.
WRA is in the process of finding the next tenant for Union Station’s restaurant space through a request-for-proposal process. During the May meeting, the authority officially signed off on an amendment to its agreement with Washington D.C.-based Menkiti Group, agreeing to take responsibility for demolishing Downtown Worcester’s Denholm Building so that it can be redeveloped.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
