Cynicism, Squared
by Erin - October 23, 2008 4:10pm
Some days, it’s really difficult to embrace life in Worcester. I love Worcester, and have no patience for incessant complaining about what the place has or doesn’t have. But every so often, Worcester makes itself difficult to love. Really difficult.
Like when it comes to CitySquare. Every time I read about CitySquare, I feel like I am listening to one of my best friends complain about their horrible, stagnant relationship, but since I know I can’t do anything about it, my mouth stays shut. Sometimes, I speak up, because I can’t take it anymore, and then my friend responds by telling me that the relationship has been looking up lately and is certain to improve soon. Inevitably, my friend calls one day to say that while she made every effort to save the relationship, her boyfriend has left her for one of her friends, and to make matters worse, it was a friend to whom she had always been a supportive cheerleader. While I’m comforting my friend, the evil voice in the back of my head asks: “Was this not inevitable? Fool.”
I had hopes for CitySquare. Not necessarily high hopes, but hopes nonetheless. Opening up the downtown, getting more people to work/shop/live in the area, filling the empty space left by the mall – neat. I don’t know that I’m sold on the ‘urban village’ concept, but sometimes, something is better than nothing.
But four years later, things are going nowhere. Every so often, people want to know what’s going on with CitySquare. The city council asks questions, requests reports, and meetings are scheduled. The developer visits, or maybe he doesn’t, and the situation is soothed and smoothed for a while. Everything will be fine, once the time is right, a few contracts are signed, and the moon is in the seventh house of Pluto.
And then the national economy starts to circle the drain. Investments are curtailed. Retailers halt expansion plans. A major employer in downtown Worcester makes plans to move, and makes it known that they’re looking for space.
Wait – could THEY move into CitySquare? Could this be the shot in the arm that the project has been waiting for, as it appears that we won’t be filling the village with the Gap and Applebee’s anytime soon?
Not if that employer moves to Gateway Park! Of course, we have no idea whether or not the developer really cares about the situation. The T&G has a good recap of the situation.
Like Charlie Brown, I just can’t take it anymore.
What do you think about CitySquare?
the scale of citysquare makes it too big to succeed. the city should not pay for demolition.. The developer should demolish when it is in his financial interest to proceed.
Personally, I think it’s too big as well, especially for a city this size.
My super-cynic streak says that nothing will happen here for quite a while, and the developer will eventually sell to someone else.
Hmmm… City Square. I think Worcester has the potential to be so much and a few things have happened downtown. Sometime the City does seem like a girl with low self-esteem. Toyed with by developers and left lonely when times get tough.
It makes me think of Buddy Cianci in Providence. I’ve heard it said that Worcester doesn’t have a “strong” mayor. We are ruled by a council, which is good when you’re booming but not so good when someone needs to make something happen. Buddy Cianci was a strong mayor personally and perhaps politically, and he got it done in Providence.
Little Girl Worcester needs to get assertive and say what she wants. Or she might not end up with anything at all.
I think “commuter” is wrong, but I usually do.
He/She does make a good point that the scale is large, but the location, at the very heart of the city, makes it impossible to ignore. It’s like the kitchen of the house, everyone ends up in or through there for something fairly often. Kitchen renovations are the most expensive and painful. Right now I think we are in the phase where we are tired of ordering out and using the microwave in the living room. But once the room is done, it will change the feel and functionality of the whole house. We’re Worcester: we may not get granite countertops, but we will get the much improved refrigerator and range, and the extrememly useful counters and storage.
I think everyone that has knowledge of this type of project should speak on the development and everyone else shut up!
This is a major development for any city including Boston. Worcester is a working class town with limited resources. It’s also not that appealing when doing a upscale business analysis. The developer has the knowledge and experience to do the job. There are a few issues, one is the obvious credit market and the other is the demographics. Most national companies do their home work before making a decision and Worcester lacks a resonable size of middle and upper class residents.
This is changing thanks to the many people moving west from Boston but it’s still a challenge. I believe the project will come to fruition but it will have more challenges ahead. I suggest less negative talk and more commitment from the residents to support the many new projects the city has brought to the city in recent years.
I say all this with the knowledge of doing this professioanlly in another part of the country but still having a small piece of my heart still in my home town.
Keep the faith