Midtown Mall photo courtesy of Worcester Sun
**Not yet a member of The 016? Please take a second to join today and find out what all the buzz is about. Registration is free and easy.**
Midtown Mall, abutting property sold for $4 million
The Midtown Mall, whose owners faced a 30-day deadline to provide detailed plans on their revitalization efforts for the deteriorating mall, has been sold.
Owners Dean and Judith Marcus sold the mall and 12 Front Street for $4 million to developer Felicio Lana in a sale recorded at the Registry of Deeds on Friday afternoon.
The Marcuses, who have long drawn the ire of Worcester's business, political and civic leaders for failing to maintain their buildings, appeared at a well-attended and contentious meeting of the Worcester Redevelopment Authority on April 4.
The WRA, which targeted the buildings for acquisition and rehabilitation in its Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan, gave the couple 30 days to produce in writing detailed plans for how they intended to address the property's shortcomings or risk having it taken by eminent domain.
An article on MassLive quoted Redevelopment Authority member Michael Angelini as saying: “I think it is essential that we see in writing what you propose to do. Your credibility is an issue."
The sale ended the couple's long ownership of the historic mall and its five-story neighbor. The mall, formerly the Woolworth Building, is on the Mass. Cultural Resource Information System’s list of historic buildings, as is 12 Front St., which traces its construction back to 1851.
12 Front St. photo courtesy of Worcester Sun
Lana had long been rumored to be a potential buyer of the property. A MassLive article in October 2017 noted his interest. Lana owns a number of downtown properties, including 44 and 50 Front St. (below)
Photo: City of Worcester
In addition, Lana owns, among other buildings, 418 Main St., 79-87 Pleasant St., 86 Pleasant St.
The purchase means Lana owns nearly the entire block, except for 38 Front St.
UPDATE: City Manager Ed Augustus comments, courtesy of Hank Stolz
Here is what the City (@TweetWorcester) had to say about the sale of the Midtown Mall,
— Talk of the Commonwealth (@CommonTalkPod) May 5, 2019
"The City and the WRA extend an invitation to meet with Mr. Lana and look forward to hearing his plans for the future of the buildings and their tenants." -City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr.
**Not yet a member of The 016? Please take a second to join today and find out what all the buzz is about. Registration is free and easy.**
Recent blogs
Worcester news: The answer to this question could determine the fate of Kelley Square redesign
The 016, the social network for Worcester and you
There's always something happening in The 016!
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:37). High of 64 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+8:00: Worcester woman arrested after multi-agency investigation
+8:00: Northbridge company settles wage violations for $190,000
+8:00: The “210 Awards” for the Worcester Railers 2023-2024 season (Part 1)
+Noon: Worcester Art Museum discrimination lawsuit has been dismissed
+Noon: Singer Cara Brindisi wants to talk
+Noon: Screen Time: Remembering Clinton's Bewitching star, Agnes Moorehead
+Noon: Sarah Connell Sanders: A few spring things to fling yourself into family fun
+Noon: Jazzed Up Wednesdays at 961 (Union Station)
+Noon: Last Call: Fred Gerhard, poet
-Constant disturbances at house full of squatters has Worcester neighbors on edge (1:20)
-Planned Downtown Worcester restaurant may lose licenses
-See Worcester job, income, population changes over 30 years
-Judge orders prosecutor to turn over documents in Turtleboy case
-Ride-share drivers rally in Worcester to support contractor work, benefits
-Rep. Mary Keefe on revising policies to upgrade Worcester schools
-Sean Rose on getting Mass. migrants into workforce
-Worcester Housing Authority working with Lakeside Apartments residents on relocation to ready for major overhaul
-Here’s why Worcester wants to plant 2 new forests. And it wants your help
-Channel 5 Wake Up Call from Eisenberg Assisted Living in Worcester (:52)
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (45:58): City violence and upcoming State of the City address
-Unsolved: Worcester — The Gardner Fugitive and the Murder of Breanne Pennington. Video (13:59). Audio (13:58)
>SHOPPING: Birch Alley leaves Canal District, moves to Manchaug
-ICYMI: Piccadilly Plaza in Worcester saved from wrecking ball as developer bring in new tenants
-In Worcester, barber offers free haircuts to help boost confidence ahead of M.C.A.S. tests (1:55). Article
-3 in custody after chase on I-290 ends in crash in Northborough (2:17)
-Related: Aerial footage of crash (:50)
-Judge upholds prison sentence of Kevin Perry, former Worcester restaurant owner
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett names new principal
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Applications open for Shrewsbury Youth Police Academy
-Paxton getting override info to voters
-Longtime Sterling volunteer honored
-Grafton candidates night April 28th
-Lancaster's Simon receives Pillar Award
-Tahanto coach announces retirement
-Nashoba Music Department earns national recognition
-Field of 4 vie to fill Bolton post
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
-100FM The Pike Adventures with Mike Hsu (5:35): Line dancing at Off the Rails
>SHOWTIME: Richard Thomas in "To Kill a Mockingbird" at The Hanover
-Radio Worcester (15:44): Korey’s Courage — Inspiring stories at Mass. Film Fest
-Worcester Art Museum updates plans for showcasing Higgins Armory Collection
-Daikaiju Pro to mix wrestling, martial arts, theater at White Eagle
-Listen Up: Ghost of the Machine, Weapon E.S.P. get "Savage" again
-Unity Radio (55:12): Standups and Standouts
-Unity Radio (1:00:35): Unity In The Community
-WCCA-TV's This Is Worcester No. 200 (27:20): Peter Panagiotou, Pay It Forward Card Shows
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to man who dedicated 60 years of his life to Notre Dame Cemetery and Mausoleum
>SPORTS: Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 4-1
-8 athletes, 2 teams to be inducted into Worcester Public Schools Athletic Hall of Fame
-This week in Holy Cross Athletics
-Worcester Railers 2023-24 season recap
-WooSox Rewind: WooSox take 4 of 6 against Durham
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-U.S. News & World Report lists its best electric and hybrid vehicles for 2024
-Tragic: Woman at risk of losing her arm after being attacked by dog her son rescued
>NEW ENGLAND: Mass. sees drastic increase in gas prices (1:29)
-34 Mass. high schools among nation's best, U.S. News says
>COLLEGES: 2 WPI student teams develop apps for the visually impaired (3:27)
-Anna Maria AMCAST (28:35): Revive, a recovery community outreach program
-Holy Cross Brooks Scholars showcase musical talent at concert
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 historic U.S. restaurants worth the reservation
>BUSINESS: Hospital for Behavioral Medicine brings on third C.E.O. since 202
-LPL Research: The ever-changing market narrative
-Proposed changes in Massachusetts would bar use of credit reports by employers
>HOMES: Condominium sells in Boston for $5.3 million
>HEALTH: Preventing and educating kids about cyberbullying
-Exercise could help reduce aging by lowering fat buildup (:52)
>FOOD: The Goods Bakery & Café is thriving in Spencer
>TV/STREAMING: Netflix is the dominant streaming service. So why is it changing its model?
>MOVIES: All "The Omen" movies in order to watch
>CELEBRITY: Grammy-winning gospel singer, former "American Idol" contestant Mandisa, dies at 47
>ANIMALS: Dog found tied to bench with note asking someone to adopt him (3:39)
>HISTORY: Franklin Building, Downtown Worcester, 1898
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Mystery good Samaritan pulls woman from morning house fire (1:39)
-Meanwhile, in Tewksbury, cake goes viral for mistake (:37)
Latest obituaries | | Tuesday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
+Kitchen help at deadhorse hill
+Food runner at White Eagle
+Bussers, Food Runners & Hostesses at Holden diner
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather
Comments