Committee denies petition to convert private portion of Wildwood Avenue to public street

The Worcester City Public Works Subcommittee voted to deny a petition to make the private portion of Wildwood Avenue — from Apricot Street to 301 Wildwood Ave — a public street after residents pressed the committee to preserve private ownership and staff outlined costs and legal limits.

Chairperson Councilor Economo moved to deny the petition following a lengthy public comment period and a staff presentation. The roll call vote on the motion recorded the committee’s approval of the denial.

Residents representing the private portion of Wildwood repeatedly told the subcommittee they do not want the road converted. Karen Solomon, who identified herself as a homeowner on the private section, told members that private owners “should not be financially penalized with a significant loss because the city has changed the use of our road.” Edward Petrowitz, a longtime resident and former Wildwood Ave Improvement Society president, said he and neighbors are “adamantly opposed” to conversion, describing the private-maintained model as part of the neighborhood’s identity.

Petitioner Timothy Bateman, who said he put the petition forward to seek help, told the committee he was not seeking “an all or nothing” transfer of costs and hoped for an arrangement to offset the maintenance burden that homeowners currently shoulder.

Commissioner of Public Works John Wesseling summarized how state law and local practice constrain the city’s options, quoting statutory language and explaining the limits of temporary repairs on private ways. Wesseling told the committee an estimated conversion cost to bring the private segment to public standards is about $430 per linear foot. He also cited the language of Chapter 302 of the Acts of 1984 describing the scope of temporary municipal repairs on private ways.

Assistant Commissioner Jay Mello offered targeted next steps on infrastructure: “We can investigate and evaluate that drainage structure,” he said, referring to a culvert that residents said floods near 102 Wildwood Ave, and determine whether city operations contributed to the damage.

After the presentation and comment, Economo moved to deny the petition; the committee took a roll call and the motion passed. The committee did not adopt any further changes to the petition; instead staff will follow up on the culvert and the high manhole/utility-box concerns residents raised.

The committee adjourned after finishing the evening’s agenda.