Worcester city council approves proposal for largest affordable housing project in decades

On Tuesday night, Worcester City Council voted unanimously in favor of a proposal by the mayor to build the first large-scale affordable housing development in two decades.

Mayor Joe Petty submitted a request to begin a collaboration with the Worcester Housing Authority and other leadership in an effort to build a large-scale housing project.

In his proposal, Petty said he envisioned a project similar in scale to Curran Terrace, a 50-unit, 35,000-square-foot complex on Providence Street, which was built in 1992, per the Worcester assessors database. 

Petty highlighted the $30 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, which has been allotted for Worcester’s housing needs. 

Every city councilor spoke in favor of Petty’s proposal, with Councilors Donna Colorio and Sarai Rivera adding in some concern and questions. 

Colorio asked whether there is an available parcel of land to construct a project of this scale in Worcester. Rivera added in concern about the stigma and segregation often accompanying large-scale affordable housing projects. She urged the council to consider mixed-use projects and think carefully about how segregation can be avoided with this project.

Ultimately, all 11 councilors voted in favor of the proposal.

Worcester Housing Authority on Saturday announced it will construct 100 new units of affordable housing as part of a renovation of its Curtis Apartments complex.

Most recently, a 31-unit affordable housing project opened in October on Chandler Street, built by community development nonprofit Worcester Common Ground.