149 Belmont Street:
Supportive Housing for Disabled, Homeless Adults
in partnership with Genesis Club, Inc.
149 Belmont Street
Any time we finish building or rehabilitating a house in our neighborhood it's exciting, but the completion of 149 Belmont Street was the cause for much celebration at the CDC as we shared in the joy of men and women who moved into new apartments there in May. For many of the tenants, who are also clients of Genesis Club, Inc. and live with special challenges related to a history of homelessness and disabilities, the move into a beautifully furnished studio apartment was the opportunity of a lifetime. Newly sided and freshly painted in a cheery shade of bright blue, the building's new look and complete top-to-bottom rehabilitation has also given the formerly dilapidated and abandoned building on Belmont Street its own new lease on life.
The CDC bought the property from the city in 2003 for $125,000 and then raised more than $1.5 million in funding to cover the project's entire cost. Architect Ed Nunes and Stutman Contracting turned the vision into a reality, creating a well-designed, completely refurbished 10-unit building that features sunny studios with all-new utilities, kitchens and bathrooms.
The 10 furnished studio apartments at 149 Belmont Street are sunny and spacious. Each unit features hardwood floors as well as new, fully-applianced kitchens and bathrooms.
Bell Hill Home Ownership Initiative - Phase II
The second phase of the WESCDC's Bell Hill Home Ownership Initiative included the creation of nine new housing units (five for first-time homebuyers and four affordable rentals) and the rehabilitation of four buildings in our neighborhood.
5 Mt. Vernon Street is located across the park from our four units at 22-24 Northampton St. This 800-sq. foot lot was donated to the CDC by the City of Worcester. Construction was undertaken by Francis Harvey & Sons, Inc. The rehabiliated home, which was completed in early 2004, includes two condominiums, each with three bedrooms and 1-1/2 baths. One of the units is handicapped accessible.
5 Mt. Vernon Street
The property at 125 Eastern Ave. was abandoned by its former owners -- its future uncertain due to probate court issues. But it's potential rehabilitation remained a top priority for the Eastern Avenue Neighborhood Association. In 2000, the WESCDC acquired the building and demolished it due to its crumbling foundation and other significant structural issues. It was rebuilt by Dennis DiGiando, Inc. of Milford into a two-family home with a three-bedroom, 1 1/2 bath owners' unit containing 1,358 s.f. of living space and a one-bedroom, one-bath rental unit.
125 Eastern Avenue
Located off Shrewsbury Street, 89 East Central St. was in an area identified by the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association as a priority for housing rehabilitation. The WESCDC acquired the vacant building after a devastating fire left the building in need of a full gut renovation. Francis W. Harvey & Sons were the contractors for the project, which now includes a two-bedroom, 1 1/2-bath unit for homeowners and a 1-bedroom rental unit. The house was purchased in February 2003 by a first-time homebuyer.
89 East Central Street
Although renovation of 142 Belmont Street had been started by its former owner, the building sat vacant for many years before it was acquired by the WESCDC. One of Worcester's previously dilapidated triple-deckers, the rehabilitated building now has a three-bedroom owners' unit and two three-bedroom rental units. The new owners, first-time homebuyers, moved to 142 Belmont Street in February 2003
142 Belmont Street
Bell Hill Home Ownership Initiative - Phase I
The first phase of the WESCDC's Bell Hill Homeownership Initiative included the creation of fourteen new housing units (five first-time homebuyer and nine affordable rental opportunities) and the rehabilitation of five buildings in our neighborhood.
The building at 22-24 Northampton Street was a former boarding house that was transformed into two owner-occupied duplexes as part of the first phase of the Bell Hill Homeownership project. Both homeowners have a four-bedroom, two-bathroom unit as well as a one-bedroom rental unit. The project was completed in Spring 2002.
22-24 Northampton St.
Once vacant, in major disrepair and located on a site overun with weeds, the property at 57 Catharine Street was rehabilitated in November 2000. This triple-decker is now home to three families, including the first-time homebuyer owners.
57 Catharine Street
On January 12, 2000 Worcester Mayor Ray Mariano attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for 116 Eastern Avenue, the first home completed as part of the WESCDC's Bell Hill Homeownership Initiative. One of many triple-deckers in the Bell Hill neighborhood in need of improvements. 116 Eastern Avenue was rehabilitated to include a two-floor four-bedroom, two-bathroom owners' unit and two three-bedroom rental units.
116 Eastern Avenue