Work begins on The Cove, mixed-use project near Polar Park in Worcester

Construction on an $81 million, seven-story mixed-use development overlooking Worcesters Polar Park officially began Wednesday, when V10 Development held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Canal District property.

The Cove at 89 Green St. will include 171 market-rate apartments as well as ground-floor commercial space with a restaurant, bar and candlepin bowling alley. The building will also feature a roof deck with views into the ballpark next door.

This stadium has been really a breath of fresh air for the community. Its so exciting bringing people back into Worcester, said John Tocco, managing partner and COO of V10 Development, at the event. This area is going to be, and already is, an amazing place and amazing asset for the community.

The project was first announced in spring of 2021, and originally called for 13 stories and 381 apartments, but was cut down to seven late last year. The property is the former home of Cove Music Hall, which closed in 2018 and after which the development is named.5

The Cove Apartments

The project will include studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, a parking garage with 99 spaces and 16,000 square feet of retail space. Residents will also have access to two patios overlooking Polar Park, a gym, co-working space and communal lounge areas.Read more: Worcester renters bear larger burden of rising housing costs, report says

Preliminary work at the site began last month.

The Cove, together with developments under construction at the former Table Talk Pies factory site and on Madison Street, will bring more than 600 new housing units to the Canal District. While the Table Talk project is income-restricted housing, both of the other developments are all market-rate units.

Mayor Joe Petty attributed the major additions in the neighborhood to the opening of the ballpark.

This needed housing and retail is here because of the investment that we made in Polar Park, he said. So many un-utilized parcels here in the city, parking lots and closed stores, are being turned into homes for our residents.

City Manager Eric Batista noted that the project will also generate more tax revenue, helping the city repay its debt from the Polar Park project.

The Cove is expected to open in summer of 2024.