Worcester skyscraper proposal nearly doubles in size following developer error
Worcester residents are concerned about a proposed 19-story skyscraper that would have 225 apartments — nearly double the number previously reported.
Residents appeared before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday and expressed their concerns about the proposal from New York-based development firm, Radson Development.
The firm wants to build the skyscraper at 56 Pleasant St., just two minutes away from Worcester's tallest building, The Glass Tower. The 19-story building would feature 225 apartments, according to Donald O'Neil, a lawyer representing Radson at the board meeting.
The application for the proposal erroneously stated that there would be 125 units built, O'Neil told the board Monday night.
This came as a surprise for Worcester resident Kevin Ksen, who said residents were being left out of a conversation about the proposal.
"I'm very concerned residents know nothing about this," said Ksen. "I was telling everybody this was a huge project with 125 units. I'm just kind of knocked over a little bit to know twice as big."
Ksen was one of several residents who spoke about the skyscraper during Monday night's meeting. Many speakers didn't explicitly oppose the proposal but expressed worry over the potential impact of building 225 apartments downtown.
"A 225-unit building potentially could house a thousand people," said Worcester resident Feanna Jattan-Singh. "If a thousand people are going to be living this close downtown, we need to think a lot more about how it's going to impact all of downtown."
Ryan Chamberlain, vice president of Synergy, which owns the Glass Tower, told the board he opposes the project.
"It (the proposed building) encroaches on our garage," Chamberlain said. "We think it will have a serious material negative impact on the office building."
A majority of residents said that there should be a public hearing on the project before it moves forward.
"We are more than open to have a board meeting with the neighborhood," said Florencia Mutarelli of Radson Development. "We really want to hear what everyone has to say. We thought that we were going through the proper routes."
The board will continue discussion on the proposal on Feb. 2.
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