Worcester Housing Authority to Transform Former Cinema into Maintenance Center
The Worcester Housing Authority (WHA) is set to revamp the former Webster Square Cinemas, located at 24 Mill St., into a new management and maintenance center. This facility will streamline operations for WHA’s property managers and clerks, enhancing service delivery to housing units in the city’s western region. Chief Operating Officer Peter Proulx stated that the center will enable the authority to manage more properties effectively.
Currently, WHA oversees 3,000 housing units throughout the city, with 2,000 located in the east and 1,000 in the west. After purchasing the site for $1.35 million in 2022, WHA plans to invest $800,000 in construction, funded through their capital reserves. The renovation is projected to be completed within two years.
Historically, the site dates back to 1937 as the Park Theater, which closed in 1998 after renovations in the 1960s. The new maintenance center is a strategic move, as it is only three minutes from the Lakeside Apartments, which are currently being redeveloped from 202 units to a new complex with 350 units. This redevelopment has been segmented into four phases, with completion of the first two phases expected by July 2027.
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