128 Providence Street
At a glance
- What: City Manager proposal (ZA-2026-013) to extend the RG-5 (Residence, General) district and the Adaptive Re-use Overlay District (AROD) over 128 Providence St., the Worcester Senior Center site, to allow reuse of the vacant former St. Vincent nurses' home as about 98 units of affordable senior housing.
- Where it stands: Planning Board recommended it favorably 5-0 on 2026-08-26 (per auto-captions). Referred to the Economic Development Committee on 2026-09-22.
- Next: committee hearing 2026-10-27.
Background
- The Planning Board holds a Zoning Map Amendment hearing and reports to the City Council.
The proposal
- Rezone the BO-2 parcel to RG-5 (to the south) and add the AROD (as across Winthrop Street at Worcester Academy), so high-rise multifamily is allowed by right.
- Developer chosen through a city RFP that prioritized senior housing; working on tax credits and state review.
- Building is a designated historic property; the nurses' home has been vacant for decades. Related: St. Vincent Hospital Nursing Dormitory Senior Housing.
Status and next steps
- Planning Board favorable recommendation 5-0 on 2026-08-26.
- Referred to the Economic Development Committee on 2026-09-22, 11-0 (hearing 2026-10-27).
Discussion time
About 16 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-08-26 - Planning Board | 16 |
Log
- 2026-09-22 - City Council — Item 13b: Planning Board zone change report referred to Economic Development, 11-0, together with 95 Vernon St. (13c).
- 2026-08-26 - Planning Board - Zoning Map Amendment public hearing (item 11); favorable recommendation 5-0, no public comment. City planning staff (Michelle M. Smith) presented for the city as owner; attorney Joshua Lee Smith for the selected nonprofit developer (captioned "Roger Communities", probably Rogerson Communities). About 98 units: roughly 53 in the renovated building and 45 in a new four-story-plus addition. Olivia Houle compared BO-2 with RG-5.
- 2026-07-21 - City Council — Item 10.4A CM: Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn's recommended zoning map amendment referred to the Planning Board.
- 2026-10-27 - Economic Development Committee Meeting — Committee recommended approval, 3-0; discussion covered building height, parking, car sharing and the housing lottery.
- 2026-10-27 - 2026-10-27 - Economic Development Committee Meeting: Discussion: about 98 affordable senior units (30%-80% AMI), 4 to 4.5 floors, car share and shared parking, National Grid capacity letter; recommended 3-0.