WORCESTER, Mass. - Worcester is looking to get ample retail and commercial space in Union Station filled.

The City's Economic Development team is looking at ways to get the empty storefronts and office space at the downtown Worcester landmark the filled.

According to City of Worcester's Chief Development Officer, Peter Dunn, getting vacant square footage filled at the historic building starts and ends with the commuter rail. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the drop in commuter rail ridership dramatically reduced foot traffic in the station.

Dunn says that with more people returning to their normal commutes and the construction of a center passenger platform which will add more trains, the building will become more attractive to potential tenants to the approximately 12,000 square feet of available space.

"Right now we have about 6,000 square feet or so in the station itself and then we also have about another 6,000 on the first floor of the parking garage," Dunn said. "The commuter rail has been really important to the city, but it doesn't have huge volumes of people going through. So for those spaces that are inside the station itself, I think it's been tough for businesses to see the value of that. So, I think with more people coming in, that value is going to be seen by those potential tenants and hopefully we'll have some successful businesses in there."

Dunn also adds that the Union Station is a bit isolated due to being abutted by Interstate 290 and the railroad. The City is adding public art and creative lighting underneath the underpasses to make the area more pedestrian friendly.