Worcester aerospace manufacturer seeks $48M move to former Allegro campus
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The former Allegro MicroSystems campus in Worcester could soon be the new home of the David Clark Co.
A longtime Worcester manufacturer, which played a key role in the Apollo space program and the Moon landing, is seeking to move its headquarters from Franklin Street to the former Worcester location of the Allegro MicroSystems headquarters.
The David Clark Co. and its real estate-focused affiliate DCH Properties is seeking a tax-increment financing agreement from the City of Worcester to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing facilities to the vacant 138,472-square-foot campus at 115 Northeast Cutoff. Clark Co.’s proposal for the campus is to renovate the facilities to contain 20,000 square feet of office space, 88,370 square feet for manufacturing space, and 30,102 square feet for warehouse and storage space, according to documents included in the Worcester City Council meeting packet for the body’s upcoming May 7 meeting.
The company expects the project to cost $48 million, including $19 million for acquiring the property, $25 million in building renovations, and $4 million for machinery, office equipment, and other personal property, with completion of the project expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista has negotiated a tax increment financing agreement with the company to allow for an annual average tax exemption of 60% over a 12-year period, according to a letter submitted by Batista to the city council.
The project would see the company retaining its 229 full-time employees and adding five new full-time jobs. The company has agreed to comply with the City’s responsible development ordinance, which includes local and diversity hiring requirements.
Allegro announced it would be leaving the campus at 115 Northeast Cutoff in April 2018 for a new headquarters in Marlborough. The property is currently owned by a trust established by Mel Chacharone and Zach Curzan, two executives at Worcester-based real estate development firm Chacharone Properties. The trust purchased the property for $3.9 million in May 2019, according to City of Worcester property records.
Founded in 1935, the David Clark Co.’s first breakthrough was the development of anti-G suits, which helped prevent Allied fighter pilots during World War II from passing out during high-G maneuvers, according to the company’s website. Clark Co. later developed pressure suits used by pilots who used the X-1 rocket plane to break the sound barrier and spacesuits utilized during the Gemini and Apollo space programs. The company also manufactures communications equipment for the aerospace, aviation, military defense, fire rescue, and marine industries.
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