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Resident warns proposed roundabout could reduce neighborhood property values

Worcester City Council · January 20, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

At the council’s miscellaneous comment period, a local real estate agent said a proposed roundabout would lower nearby property values by about 3–7% and criticized the city’s compensation offers as inadequate; council acknowledged the comment during closing remarks.

During miscellaneous public comment, a local real estate agent, Mr. Barnett, told council that construction of a proposed roundabout would harm property values across a neighborhood. He cited appraisal guidance suggesting minor traffic changes can reduce values by about 3% and more noticeable exposure can lower values by 3–7%; using a 5% example on a $250,000 house, he estimated a $14,000 loss and said the city’s $2,975 offer was “pennies on the dollar.”

Barnett said multiple households in the area would be affected, named several neighbors, and urged council to reconsider or address compensation. Council members acknowledged the comment and thanked him for presenting his perspective; no formal action was taken at the meeting and the item remains a public comment record.

Why it matters: Transportation projects can have localized property impacts; the comment put compensation and neighborhood consequences on the record ahead of any later design or acquisition steps.

What’s next: No change of course was recorded Tuesday; residents may pursue further administrative meetings or hearings when the project reaches acquisition or design milestones.