In today’s daily “5 Things You Need to Know” feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition — Friday, Oct. 11 — the SkyMark Tower sold for a whopping $28.8 million smackers; Worcester’s got a really low rate of uninsured people; it’s hazardous waste drop-off time; the Worcester Jazz Festival’s swinging through Saturday; and the state DPH confirms third human case of West Nile Virus.
SkyMark Tower Sells For $28.8 Million
Capstone Apartment Partners brokered the $28.8 million sale of SkyMark Tower, a 206-unit high-rise apartment building in downtown Worcester. This building soars 24 stories above downtown and is the only luxury high-rise property on the market, “setting it apart from any other residential rental community,” according to the Capstone announcement last week.
Capstone sold the 289-foot building on behalf of the Framingham-based seller, VTT Management, and procured the buyer, Benedict Canyon Equities, who is based out of Los Angeles, CA. The founder of Benedict Canyon Equities, Bob Hart, was attracted to the property due to a personal connection to the Worcester area. Hart attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is now a member of the Board of Trustees as well as a generous donor, said the announcement.
“SkyMark Tower is a timeless asset, situated directly in the path of Worcester’s explosive growth story, with multiple opportunities remaining for new ownership to add value,” Klenk said. “
SkyMark is currently 95 percent occupied and 98 percent leased.
Worcester’s Got One of the Lowest Uninsured Rates In the Country
In 2018, the national uninsured rate rose to 8.5 percent from 7.9 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It was the first year that there was an increase since the Affordable Care Act (ACE) took effect, reports WalletHub.
Those uninsured rates vary widely by city, so the finance website measured the rates for 548 U.S. cities and broken them down even further by age, income level and race. They also conducted the same analysis at the state level.
Turns out, based on these findings, Worcester has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the country, coming in at No. 27. Other Massachusetts cities that came in ahead of of Worcester were Newton at No. 1, Cambridge at No. 13 ad Fall River at No. 24. Not bad. Springfield landed just behind Worcester, at No. 28. Pharr, Texas, landed at the bottom of the list, with 44.32 percent of adults in that city reportedly uninsured.
Drop Off Your Earth-Ruining Piles of Crap In A Socially-Conscious Way
This weekend, the city’s holding one of its drop-off days, and this one—on Saturday, Oct. 12—is specifically for household hazardous waste. If you’re unsure what that means, it’s waste that includes stains, varnishes, batteries, cleaners, herbicides, automotive fluids and other items that are usually building up under your sink or on your basement shelves. They fall into four categories: flammable, corrosive, explosive and toxic/poison.
This hazardous waste drop-off is by appointment only, and waste is only accepted from Worcester residents. You’ve got to prove you’re a resident and there’s a limit of 25 gallons or 25 pounds.
Drop-off is between 9 a.m. to noon, and here’s where you can make an appointment and get a very-specified list of what is, and what is not, accepted.
It’s Just Cool: the Worcester Jazz Festival Continues Throughout the Weekend
Smoky. Acid. Swinging. No matter the kind, jazz is just cool. And diverse. For the second year, Worcester’s celebrating jazz by bringing local, regional and national acts together to take part in this three-day festival. It started on Thursday, and continues to Saturday, Oct 12, culminating with the “festival day” on Worcester Common from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Some of the acts on tap for the festival include: WPI Jazz Ensemble with guest vocalist Toni Ballard; Clark University Jazz Ensemble; The Russo Brothers; The Worcester Academy Jazz Band; award-winning vocalist Patrice Williamson; and a Worcester Tribute to Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) ft. GUMBO. The event also features arts and crafts, vendors and food trucks.
Get the full schedule and details right here.
State Officials Announce Third Human Case of West Nile Virus
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [DPH] announced on Thursday, Oct. 10, they have confirmed the third human case of West Nile virus [WNV] infection in a man in his 60s from Middlesex County.
The man was exposed to the virus last month and there are no risk level changes at this time.
“We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites,” said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH. “Although mosquito populations are declining, some risk will continue until the first hard frost.”
The other two human cases of WNV this season involved another man in his 60s from Middlesex County and a man in his 50s from Plymouth County.
There have also been 12 human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE] virus infection, a rare but serious and potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease that can affect people of all ages. Eight horses and a goat have also been confirmed with EEE this season.
Follow us on The016.com, the social network for Worcester and you!
Recent Headlines
$MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push([“032942e8-05a9-496b-9304-a0f70d6ab296”]); })
$MMT = window.$MMT || {}; $MMT.cmd = $MMT.cmd || [];$MMT.cmd.push(function(){ $MMT.display.slots.push([“e8784850-8cc0-403e-ad08-582fede53c10”]); })
