Somerville Developer Wants Worcester's The Bridge Site Rezoned

WORCESTER, MA — A Boston-area developer has formally asked for permission to rezone a historic Worcester building — and former home of The Bridge venue and community center — potentially making way for a new commercial or residential development.

Dalfior Development will go before the Planning Board on Wednesaday to ask for 300 Southbridge St. to be rezoned as an "adaptive reuse overlay district" (AROD). That type of zoning has been used by developers in other projects in Worcester to create residential space in former industrial buildings. The Junction Shop Lofts along Beacon Street, for example, is in an AROD.

The notable Southbridge Street building was constructed in 1866 to house the Sargent Card Clothing Factory. It sits only about a block away from a large former Wyman-Gordon site that has been cleared for development linked to Polar Park, including a new 228-unit apartment building that broke ground in July.

The Bridge closed in July after a months-long bid by its founders to raise money to buy the Southbridge Street building. Backers were nearing a goal of raising $1 million for the purchase when the property owner closed the venue, according to Worcester Magazine. The closure came right before The Bridge was set to host a large block party that aimed to raise money to complete the purchase.

Dalfior does not yet own 300 Southbridge St., but the owner, the Saul Talbert Trust, has granted the company permission to seek the zoning change, according to city records. The two parties have entered into a purchase and sale agreement, however, which typically precedes a formal land transfer.

The Somerville-based development company is owned by Fernando Dalfior, and is behind many residential projects and home renovations in the Boston area. A request for comment about Dalfior's plan for the building was not immediately returned.

The 300 Southbridge St. parcel also includes the Miss Worcester Diner, but the restaurant would not be changed during the potential redevelopment of the former industrial building, according to previous reports.