WORCESTER, Mass. - The City of Worcester and WinnDevelopment announced plans to redevelop the former Boys Club site at Lincoln Square and surrounding properties into a 100-unit senior housing development.

According to City Manager Ed Augustus, it will be the first senior housing project in downtown Worcester.

The development will feature a mix of affordable and market rate one and two-edroom units for seniors, and will include community kitchen spaces, fitness areas, and reading rooms. 

The new five-story addition to be built alongside the Boys Club will have ground floor parking and will include up to 70 of the planned state-of-the-art units. 

WinnDevelopment will purchase air rights above the Johnson Tunnel and on an abandoned portion of Prescott St. for $100,000 from the City.

During a Friday morning press conference, Augustus said, “Affordable housing is a big need, a big priority for us here in the city. And having 80 percent of these units for folks 62 and above, I think helps us continue to make sure that people that have been part of Worcester historically, can afford to stay here and enjoy this kind of renaissance period in Worcester's history."

The City Council will be presented with the plans on Tuesday night. The development of the property will be possible through private investment from WinnCompanies and will not rely on any public money from the City. Nearly $3 million in state tax credits has already been raised for the project through efforts by Preservation Worcester and the organization anticipates to go after federal tax credits.

If approved, construction on the project will likely start next year and be completed in 2023. The construction will be overseen by Cutler associates and 50 percent or more of its subcontractors will be hired from within Worcester County.

Winn purchased the property from the City of Worcester in 2019.