Baker-Polito Administration Announces $3 Million MassWorks Award for Gloucester
Award supports planned development of Fuller School site, including a new YMCA building
BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration announced a $3 million MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant for road and sewer improvements in the Trask Street area, which will support planned development of the Fuller School property, including the construction of a new YMCA building.
This MassWorks award will fund about 1,190 linear feet of upgraded sewer lines and other sewer improvements, as well as Complete Streets improvements along five downtown roadways between the Fuller School site and the Gloucester MBTA Commuter Rail Station.
The project entails the removal of the former school building and triggers a $70 million mixed-use development, which will add 200 apartments and a 65,000 square-foot YMCA that will benefit the entire community. The project also includes 30 affordable housing units and 26,000 square feet of commercial space.
“Our Administration is committed to investing in programs like MassWorks that support local infrastructure and play a critical role in strengthening businesses and the communities that surround them,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “MassWorks is one of this Administration’s many initiatives that enable local communities to tap into private investment and accelerate local economic growth across the Commonwealth.”
“We are excited to award $3 million in MassWorks funding to redevelop the Fuller School site and support the new YMCA and mixed-use development in the area,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Governor Baker and I are pleased to continue to make the investments in the public infrastructure our cities and towns need to create sustainable growth.”
“Through the flexibility of MassWorks, we have been able to drive over two million square feet of new commercial space, made possible by listening to individual communities’ needs and by responding with individualized programs that benefit many stakeholders, such as this project in Gloucester, which improves infrastructure and enables development that will benefit direct residents and the broader community,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash. “Our office saw another competitive round of MassWorks for 2018 and we are happy to keep the momentum going across the Commonwealth in the year ahead.”
The increased sewer capacity is expected to enhance Gloucester’s potential to attract new residential development at two adjacent sites located off Essex Street and Sargent Street. The Complete Streets elements will directly increase access to the new Fuller development and will enhance multimodal transportation, particularly bicycle and pedestrian travel, between existing downtown businesses, new housing and retail at the Fuller School site, and the Gloucester MBTA Commuter Rail.
“The public infrastructure MassWorks grant is essential for Gloucester to support housing growth, economic development and a new YMCA. Thank you to the Baker-Polito Administration for their commitment to cities and towns and partnering with us on these important public works projects,” said Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken.
“This major investment of MassWorks funding will not only support dramatic infrastructure improvements, it will also be the catalyst for many needed benefits ranging from an increase in housing stock to new employment and economic opportunities to a first-class YMCA for the community,” said Senator Bruce Tarr. “These wisely spent dollars will be transformational in their impact for years to come.”
“This MassWorks project represents a great example of public private partnerships and the important role they play as Gloucester works to build a new YMCA, expand its affordable housing opportunities, and create additional retail space as the City tackles the challenge of furthering economic development,” stated Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante.
Since 2015, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded close to $275 million in MassWorks grants to support 138 projects in 106 communities. MassWorks funding has been critical to the addition of over 2 million square feet of commercial/retail space, approximately 10,000 full and part time jobs, more than 7,000 immediate housing units, at least 7,000 square feet of new public space and 1,200 new hotel rooms.
Through the 2018 MassWorks round, the Administration will award more than $82 million in new grants for 40 projects that intend to leverage $2.9 billion in private investment, and drive an anticipated 4,000 units of new housing and more than 9,000 full time jobs. 37 communities across the Commonwealth will benefit from this round’s investments.
Governor Baker signed economic development legislation in August that includes substantial new funding for municipalities, including another $250 million for MassWorks awards. The legislation builds on the Baker-Polito Administration’s work to partner with communities to catalyze economic development and create new opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth, including the 2016 Job Creation and Workforce Development act, which authorized $1 billion to support economic development efforts across the state, including $500 million authorization for MassWorks Infrastructure Program, enhanced tools and the introduction of new strategies for job-readiness efforts.
Learn more about MassWorks at mass.gov.