Photo from 2012 Massachusetts Historical Commission application
**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.**
Demolition of former Four Seasons can proceed, 4 houses planned
UPDATE: The Worcester Historical Commission voted on Thursday to allow the demolition of the former Four Seasons Restaurant, 249 Lake Ave.
The owner, Manor Real Estate Trust, has a year to begin the demolition of the restaurant and what remains of two lakefront cabins.
Over the objections of neighbors, the owner sought on Feb. 4 and was granted a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals for relief from the minimum frontage dimensional requirement. The plan, per the owner's application, is to construction four single-family houses.
***
The owner of a historic but deteriorated former restaurant on Lake Avenue is applying to have the building demolished.
The owner of the former Four Seasons Restaurant at 249 Lake Ave. is scheduled to appear in front of the Worcester Historical Commission at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the meeting agenda. The petitioner, Cherele Gentile, is requesting a Building Demolition Delay Waiver to demolish the restaurant and what remains of two lakefront cabins that were also part of the property.
The restaurant last operated as the Four Seasons. Its website is no longer active and its Facebook page contains only two posts from December 2014. The property, valued by the city at $675,100, was sold for $650,00 in January 2016.
Here is the historical narrative that accompanied the application for historic status in 2012:
Undated photo from City of Worcester
"The Town Club, owned by Victor and Althea Richardson, first appears in the Worcester City directory in 1938. The restaurant also is shown on a 1944 Sanborn Fire Insurance map. The footprint of the building shown on the 1944 map appears to be identical to the footprint of the existing building. The Town Club was one of several restaurants, nightclubs, and boat clubs along the westerly shore of Lake Quinsigamond in the 1930s. The Oaks Dancing Hall was located on Lake Avenue to the south of the Town Club and the Quinsigamond Boat Club was located to the north. Other nearby nightclubs on Lake Avenue in the 1930s included the Engelbert Club and the Kalumet Club just to the north of the Quinsigamond Boat Club. The Town Club building is the only one of these venues that appears to still exist.
"The Town Club began operating as the Town Crest Restaurant c. 1950, apparently under the same family ownership. That business last appears in the Worcester City Directory in 1968. The restaurant began operating under new ownership as the Four Seasons c. 1972, at which time the alterations to the front elevation of the building likely were made. The business continues to operate as the Four Seasons Restaurant in 2012.
"The footprints of the two lakeside cottages are shown at the rear of the Town Club on the 1944 Sanborn map, with the cottage to the north marked as #247 and the cottage to the south marked as #251. It is unknown if the cottages were yearly rentals or seasonal rentals, although the Worcester City directories indicate a changing list of occupants for both addresses throughout the 1940s and 1950s. The cottages are presently vacant and open to the weather, and are in severely deteriorated condition. The front portion of #247 has collapsed."
May 14, 2019
**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: Pot shop planned next to popular breakfast spot
Worcester news: Complaints against Worcester businesses in 2019
Worcester news: Historic restaurant building targeted for demolition
Mark Henderson: Midtown Mall sold, city wants to hear new owner's plans
Mark Henderson: Thanks a million!
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 (:28). High of 82 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+4:00: Big Y, Stop & Shop locations stop deli meat orders due to listeria outbreak
+4:00: Parking restrictions announced in Canal District on Sunday
+4:00: Part of Highland Street to close for nearly a month
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand— "Bad Boys Ride or Die" and more
+Noon: The road takes Grace Potter to Indian Ranch to "share the love"
+Noon: Clemente Writing Project anthology celebration set for Salisbury House
+Noon: Auschwitz exhibit illuminates Holocaust victims' humanity
-220-unit apartment complex in Worcester breaks ground
-Michael Angelini leading exodus of Bowditch & Dewey attorneys to start Worcester office for Boston-based firm
-Out to Lunch series fills Worcester Common
-New fried chicken restaurant in Worcester gets license to open
-Man arrested for hatchet attack in Worcester
-Worcester man indicted on child pornography charges
-Worcester man stopped on moped arrested on drug charges
-National Grid halting energy savings program for low-income households
-Teacher Spotlight: Worcester's Lillian Momanyi makes a difference
-Local schools receive $579,000 for life sciences education
-Worcester's Jacob Hiatt School receives S.T.E.A.M. lab
-Central Mass. universities are infusing A.I. into curricula
-City of Worcester (:36): Trash Talk | Where can I get a city recycling bin?
-Radio Worcester (15:32): Is Worcester’s 311 system helping to clean up the city?
>DINING OUT: Worcester State employee opens Greek restaurant in Worcester
-ICYMI: Worcester police ask for help finding missing boy who could be in Worcester
-Mosquitoes in Worcester test positive for West Nile virus
-Worcester unveils vending machines for pay-as-you-throw bags
-George’s Bakery, Ed Hyder’s and Tasty Experience Bistro can help you beat the summer heat
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Openings on town boards and committees
-See Why People Buy 30 Cars and Trucks at Lamoureux Ford (3:32)
-Holden rower to compete in Paris Olympics
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Sutton superintendent resigns
-Gathering of the tribe at Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation powwow in Grafton
-Shrewsbury residents can drop off old recycling bins Saturday
-Shrewsbury Marble & Granite builds on experience, customer service
-Man arrested in Clinton after noise and assault complaints from heated arguments with 2 women
-5-duplex Millbury property sold for $1.23 million
-Rutland police to participate in Lilac Hedge Farm’s Touch-a-Truck event Friday and Saturday
-Leicester Public Safety Day August 27th
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Five Things to Do: African Festival, TAKE3 and more ...
-100FM The Pike (16:39): Yachtley Crew's Philly Ocean and Tommy Buoy help Mike Hsu decide if it's Yacht or not
-"Marvelous Wonderettes" line up for Square One Players of Shrewsbury
-Local dance classes offer a world of personal and cultural discovery
-Bill Shaner: Inside the project to archive runaway slave ads at the American Antiquarian Society
-Giselle Rivera-Flores: Kamala Harris?
-Cassinda Scharff: Avoiding mom burnout
-WCCA-TV's Intern Interviews No. 56 (18:57): Joyce Tavon, CEO, Mass. Housing and Shelter Alliance
-Manny Jae Media Innerviews (39:48): Sebastian Knight of Laurel Clayton
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Vietnam War veteran who worked for the city of Worcester for 37 years
>SPORTS: Calvin Anderson explains how Jerod Mayo is helping Patriots’ culture
-Daryl Morey fuels Celtics-76ers rivalry with latest comments
-Bravehearts fall to Nashua. Next home game: 6:30 p.m. Friday, August 2nd. Los Bravos Night No. 2
-Holy Cross women's basketball weight room (:17)
-WooSox fall to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
>CARS: Bertera Nissan has your next car, truck or S.U.V.! (:42)
>NATIONAL: French train lines hit by malicious acts on day of Olympics Opening Ceremonies
-U.S. arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel
-Tragic: Hero dad dies after saving 2 kids from drowning in river
>NEW ENGLAND: Maine mass shooter had a "hit list," report says
-Family identifies man shot, killed in late-night shooting in Brockton
>COLLEGES: From the Clarkives, exams in the gym, 1969–70
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 amazing places to encounter wildlife up close
>BUSINESS: Shoplifting skyrockets by 24% across U.S. in 2024
-LPL Research: Key themes for bonds in the second half of 2024
-Modernizing the electric grid
>HOMES: “Zombie” mortgages coming back to haunt homeowners (2:49)
>SHOPPING: Lowe’s Halloween line goes underwater with Kraken, undead diver
>HEALTH: How to talk to your doctor about reviewing which pills are needed
-New Ozempic data reveals who's on it, prompts shortage fears
>FOOD: Energy drinks pulled from shelves after dire warning issued
>TV/STREAMING: 1990s hit "Homicide: Life On The Street" finally heading to streaming
>MOVIES: "Inside Out 2" becomes Pixar's biggest movie ever at box office
>CELEBRITY: Vanessa Williams is "embracing her age" and ditching Botox at 61
>HISTORY: 10 weird facts about the Great Depression
>ANIMALS: Wild porcupine demands fresh fruit until his paw heals (3:26)
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Scituate man finds wedding band in Eastham
-Meanwhile, mom praised for "revenge" on scamming ice cream man
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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