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Commission clears interior conversion at 403 Main Street, cites historic-façade restoration
Summary
The commission approved a building demo-delay waiver for 403 Main Street, allowing an interior gut rehabilitation to convert office floors to residential units and restore historic façades; the project qualifies for state and federal historic tax credits, the applicant said.
The Worcester Historical Commission on Sept. 4 approved a building demolition-delay waiver for 403 Main Street, clearing an interior rehabilitation that will convert four floors of former office space into residential units and restore historic exterior masonry and windows.
Commissioners approved the waiver after presentation from Mark Rangel, vice president of development for the Mankiti Group, who described the work as a “complete interior gut rehabilitation” with all new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-protection systems. Rangel said the project includes façade restoration on the west elevation and replacement of the roof with new EPDM membrane, and that the project qualifies for state and federal historic tax credits.
Rangel told the commission the First Floor will retain storefronts on Main Street, Bank of America will retain its corner entrance, and along Mechanic Street there will be three first-floor residential units with a dedicated residential entrance. He said the west elevation restoration will remove non-historic screening and restore original masonry and stone detailing.
Commission questions focused on window type and historic compliance; Rangel said second through fourth-floor windows will be restored to their original double-hung condition where replacements had been installed. There was no public comment.
The commission’s motion found that the proposed demolition and restoration would not be detrimental to the historical or architectural resources of the city of Worcester. The motion passed by roll-call vote with Commissioners Taylor, Andre, Gutierrez Livoti, Santos Restivo, Northway, Thierman and Chair Diane Long voting yes.
Votes at a glance: Motion to grant building demolition-delay waiver and certificate for 403 Main Street — approved (7–0).
