Worcester to buy Saint Vincent parcels for $385K, market site

Google An unused part of the Senior Center (left) and the Anderson Building will be offered to developers if City Council approves spending $385,000 to acquire land from Saint Vincent Hospital.

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By Zachary Comeau

The City of Worcester is set to acquire property parcels from Saint Vincent Hospital for Worcester Senior Center parking while marketing an unused portion of the center to developers.

City Manager Edward Augustus will ask city council on Tuesday to authorize the spending of $385,000 for the acquisition of two parcels, 1 Spurr St. and 12 Winthrop St.

The city leases the 1 Spurr St. land for Senior Center parking, and an acquisition would secure long-term parking for the facility.

In a separate but related proposal, Augustus wants to combine 12 Winthrop St., the former Anderson Building, with an unused part of the Senior Center at 128 Providence St. in a package to offer to developers.

The Elder Affairs Commission voted earlier this month to release surplus property at the Senior Center located in the unused 1926 portion of the building that was once the Saint Vincent Hospital Nurses Home Building.

In a memo to city council, Augustus said any accepted bids would be required to support the Worcester Senior Center and preserve the building, which is listed in the state Cultural Resource Information System database.

When reached by phone Monday, Augustus said the city has tried in recent years to get the vacant Senior Center property back on the tax roll before, but the footprint wasn’t quite big enough for developers.

Now combined with the vacant Anderson Building, the property should be more appealing to developers, Augustus said.