Residences on Lincoln Square will include the construction of a new building along with the renovation of the Worcester Boys Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. “This is an incredibly important project, which uses adaptive reuse to create affordable housing and senior living, both of which are in high demand in Worcester and throughout the state, in a sustainable manner operating entirely on electricity. Projects like this are a win-win, allowing us to provide more housing but in a way that also helps us achieve our climate goals in the Green Worcester Plan,” says city manager Eric D. Batista.
Residences on Lincoln Square will include the construction of a new building along with the renovation of the Worcester Boys Club in Worcester, Massachusetts. “This is an incredibly important project, which uses adaptive reuse to create affordable housing and senior living, both of which are in high demand in Worcester and throughout the state, in a sustainable manner operating entirely on electricity. Projects like this are a win-win, allowing us to provide more housing but in a way that also helps us achieve our climate goals in the Green Worcester Plan,” says city manager Eric D. Batista.

WinnCompanies has begun work on transforming the historic Worcester Boys Club building into 80 affordable homes for residents 55 and older.

The firm is preserving and adapting the 94-year-old building to feature 16 apartment homes and community spaces while building an adjacent five-story building with 64 new apartments. The two structures will be connected on the ground floor by a glass walkway.

“Our legacy of development in Worcester dates back a half-century to the company’s founding when Coes Pond Village became one of our first new construction communities,” said WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn. “The Boys Club project is the result of patience, perseverance, and partnership. Having acquired this property in 2019, we couldn’t be happier to move forward with a development that will renew this historic structure and deliver much-needed affordable housing for seniors.”

The new community, Residences on Lincoln Square, will feature 19 studio, 46 one-, and 15 two-bedrooms apartments. Sixty-eight apartments will be leased to households earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI), and 12 units will be available to those earning up to 30% of the AMI. Eleven apartments will be set aside as housing for residents with disabilities.

Work on both buildings will occur simultaneously with completion expected in spring 2026.

“I am incredibly grateful for WinnDevelopment’s choice to invest in Worcester, specifically to enhance opportunities for affordable housing in the city,” said Worcester mayor Joseph M. Petty. “We have some great momentum with units coming online, and the need for housing among the elderly and folks with disabilities is ever-growing. I am looking forward to seeing new apartments that residents will be proud to live in.”

The approximately $51 million development is being made possible through financing, loans, and tax credits provided by the Massachusetts Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Property Program, HOME and Affordable Housing Trust funds from the city of Worcester, the U.S. National Park Service and Massachusetts Historic Commission, Rockland Trust Bank, MassHousing, and BlueHub Capital.

The 63,000-square-foot new construction apartment building will be built to the Passive House Institute U.S. standard, the most rigorous energy performance standard in the world. It will be all-electric, meaning it will not utilize fossil fuels, further advancing the commonwealth’s zero carbon emissions goals while creating healthy, durable, and affordable housing in the city.

The existing four-story, 48,000-square-foot building will meet Enterprise Green Communities design standards. Notable enhancements will be made to the windows, which will be replaced with historic replicas that offer comfort and environmental performance. The historic structure hosted one of the first Boys Clubs in the nation in 1930 and later served as Worcester Vocational High School for decades before becoming vacant in 2006.

The preservation and renovation of the Boys Club will make the building handicapped accessible and create several community amenity spaces for residents. The existing basement-level basketball court gym will be converted into a fitness center for residents and their guests. There will also be access for public and civic uses, with public programming overseen by the nonprofit Preservation Worcester.

“Preservation Worcester has advocated for the repurposing of the Boys Club building for more than a quarter of a century while this beautiful, historic structure deteriorated, detracting from all the progress Worcester was making,” said Deborah Packard, executive director of Preservation Worcester. “We are delighted that construction has begun on this incredibly challenging building. Restoring and repurposing buildings takes time; it’s expensive; and, importantly, it takes a team. Preservation Worcester is honored to be a limited partner in the project and is pleased to play a small role in WinnDevelopment’s efforts to restore and revive this vital community asset.”

WinnDevelopment vice president Andrew Colbert will oversee the effort. F.W. Madigan Co. of Worcester is serving as the general contractor. Other partners include Maugel DeStefano Architects, Petersen Engineering, The Public Archaeology Laboratory, VHB, Odeh Engineers/WSP, Building Evolution Corp., and Sustainable Comfort.