Splice and run

Part 5

Kristen Lombardi

If survival is WBDC's true goal, then the group may need to look elsewhere to ensure success. Andrews grants that Kendall consultants are exploring the feasibility of a "broader scope" of marketing for the park. Rather than focus solely on the dangerous, albeit attractive research-and-development "wet lab" sector, he says, WBDC may consider targeting firms that supply materials to researchers or run testing services for them.

"We're also exploring medical-service companies. They tend to hire more employees and get into manufacturing more quickly," he says.

Taunton-Rigby promotes such a change. She has stated the obvious since she announced her decision to move Aquila: Biotech Park has a lot of empty space, and if things continue in the same vein, the park-of-the-future may mirror the abandoned factories of the city's past. Taunton-Rigby believes the park should branch out into the business of general health care or diagnostic care.

"Biotechnology is a very narrow focus," she says. "Biotech companies have a lot of choices. We don't have to be together. In fact, the majority are in buildings scattered all over the place, and [besides] there aren't a string of biotech companies coming to Worcester."

Taunton-Rigby's new landlord, Jack O'Neil of Newton-based National Development of New England, has no intention of making his 9/90 Corporate Center, in Framingham, a biotech center. O'Neil says the field "lacks enough depth" to fill his facility's 140 acres in five years. Instead, O'Neil has sold 100,000 square feet to Staples, another 100,000 square feet to Natural Microsystems Inc., and the Aquila space.

"We don't believe biotechnology could support our goals," says O'Neil, convinced he can attract sophisticated firms regardless of whether his center is identified as a biotech park. "It has taken Worcester almost 15 years to make the park what it is today. We're not in a position to devote that much time to this."

In fact, says WBDC chairman John Hunt, a favorable aspect of non-profits overseeing a development project is that they don't need to worry about quick fills and fast investment returns. WBDC has taken its time filling Biotech Park because it could nurture it -- and ignore bottom-line gain. Hunt says WBDC has always acted in a way that bolsters its "vision" of the park -- one that creates jobs and expands the local tax base. Biotechnology may not represent the future of Worcester, says Hunt, but it will continue to flourish here.

"The turnover [at Biotech Park] isn't an indication of whether biotechnology is viable for economic growth," says Hunt. "Admittedly, we do not have a Harvard or MIT in our back yard, but I don't think that's necessary for today's biotech company."

Apparently not. Regardless of Biotech Park's vacancies, WBDC is devising site plans for another biotech center -- CenTech Park in Grafton. Andrews describes planning as "preliminary," yet confirms WBDC expects to break ground for roads, lights, and other infrastructure needs by the end of July.

Unlike Biotech Park, WBDC aims to plot only the skeleton of CenTech Park by rolling out roads and planting trees. WBDC will then try to sell parcels of the 120-acre park to large companies -- something it couldn't do in Worcester because the fledgling industry had consisted of companies without capital to invest, says Andrews. At Biotech Park, WBDC had to construct generic buildings -- complete with lab and office space -- so that small companies would move in.

By targeting large companies to buy parcels at CenTech Park, WBDC circumvents the financial constraints it's faced in Worcester. Because of its non-profit status, says Andrews, WBDC cannot simply borrow money to construct facilities. Typically, WBDC has refinanced its buildings to construct more, or raised funding from donors. Owning facilities has placed tremendous pressure on the WBDC budget and its capabilities. Enough fiscal strain exists that selling the park has tempted its executives.

"[Selling] is a possibility if it enables us to raise money to pursue other projects," concedes Hunt, unwilling to say whether WBDC is now considering bids. The organization has devoted the past 15 years to bolstering Biotech Park. "The park has taken up all of our resources."

In order for biotechnology to survive here, says Goldberg, WBDC must consider the larger network -- from Worcester to Boston and everywhere in between. MBRI attempted to do this by opening facilities in Boston's Roxbury last June. The group now operates 20,000 square feet of lab and office space in Boston Emerging Industries Center at 20 Hampden Street. Upon opening its new facility, MBRI came under criticism for sponsoring start-ups of two Boston-based companies -- Coulter Cellular Therapies Inc. and CytoLogix Corporation. Goldberg, though, sees the move as essential.

"Worcester needs to get over this intense rivalry with Boston and think of itself as part of the Massachusetts biotech community," says Goldberg. After all, most of the technology in Worcester today comes from outside -- particularly Boston. "We really have to be plugged into the overall network, and being in Boston has done this."

MBRI has taken that one step further recently by offering Mark Roosevelt, former Democratic gubernatorial candidate from Boston, a top position. Goldberg refrained from stating the role Roosevelt will play at MBRI, except to allude to Goldberg's own interest in operating a new venture-capital fund. Goldberg describes the hiring of Roosevelt as a "fortuitous move for the Boston-Worcester connection."

This connection has prompted some local insiders to suggest MBRI as the next biotech element to leave Worcester for Boston. Goldberg says MBRI may move into larger space but he adds, "We've no intention of shipping out of here." Not yet anyway.

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Kristen Lombardi can be reached at klombardi[a]phx.com.