Young and the restless

Part 4

by Kristen Lombardi

Another Saturday night in Worcester, and Main Street, with dim lights and empty sidewalks, appears as lively as a morgue. People shuffle along Highland Street's stretch of shops and restaurants, but only for so long. And the sound of Shrewsbury Street, which young people describe as the closest to hip in town, is mainly one of speeding cars.

This image, and growing impatience with the city's promised revitalization, prompted Barsotti's childhood friends to leave -- moving to "more exciting places," she says, like Atlanta, San Diego, New York City. Were it not for her job, Barsotti might also flee.

"Worcester's more suitable for families or older people," she adds.

Escape, of course, isn't for everyone. Young professionals recognize reasons to stay, such as affordable housing, attractive neighborhoods, and decent cost-of-living. They acknowledge work done to improve the city, although skeptics predict mega-projects like Medical City will bring more young professionals here -- only to struggle socially.

All they really want is for city officials to recognize their needs.

"Worcester needs to invest in young professionals and develop an economic plan that caters to them," says Joe O'Brien, 31, a paramedic.

Such sentiments don't surprise many officials. Developers, planners, and councilors alike know the city isn't as attractive, economically vibrant, or satisfying to young people as it could be.

"We need to cater more to young professionals," says Kevin O'Sullivan, marketing director of the Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce. Worcester cannot afford to lose them, he adds, "because they are our future. We need to keep them here."

But, as they say, actions do speak volumes. Officials say young people are important, yet haven't done much to satiate them. There is talk of designating North Main Street as an entertainment district, filling empty storefronts with bars, cafes, and restaurants, yet there are no formal proposals, councilors admit. If anything, councilors stymied progress last month, when they increased the commercial tax rate by nearly $2 to a stiff $37.63 per $1000.

Main Street revitalization is more a marketing effort than a development initiative, say officials. But O'Sullivan, who tries to sell the city to business, has no demographic information on young professionals -- people the entertainment industry finds most attractive.

Owners of existing Main Street clubs and bars have formed a Downtown Entertainment Association to improve nightly foot traffic, says Anne Kruse with Worcester County Convention and Visitors Bureau. But being entrepreneurs, the 20 members don't have time to recruit more establishments to the area, she adds.

"Business owners feel the same way [as young people], but what it will take for [an entertainment district] to happen is a long way off," she says.

That North Main Street's revival hasn't moved beyond discussion doesn't surprise young people. After all, aging councilors and officials have shaped economic development until now.

"Fifty-year-old politicians don't understand what young professionals want," says Paul Dell'Aquila, 23, a public-relations consultant.

Dell'Aquila, who moved back from Boston because he believes in his hometown's potential, finds hope in recent elections of three young councilors -- Tim Murray, 29, Stacey DeBoise, 33, and Joe Petty, 37.

"They can certainly remember what it's like to be twentysomething, just starting a career and wanting things to do," says Dell'Aquila.

They do more than remember -- they relate. DeBoise, for instance, recruits employees for Worcester Public Schools as part of her duties as an affirmative-action officer. Young candidates, in particular, ask about the city's social opportunities all the time, says DeBoise.

"I cannot honestly tell them that Worcester is full of places [for young people] to socialize," she adds.

Until now, the city's focused on big economic projects, necessary for creating jobs and strengthening the tax base, she says. The city's young professionals are clamoring about quality-of-life, however, and the time's come to deal with the grievances, DeBoise adds.

Murray's already responding to complaints, researching "business-improvement districts" in Buffalo, New Orleans, and Houston. He's carved out a rectangle downtown, extending beyond North Main Street to High and Highland streets, to try replicating successful tactics, he says.

"Historically, the city's powerful have been reluctant to change or raise people's expectations, but we've got to take risks," adds Murray.

His words may appease young professionals who see a city on the verge, teetering toward renewal, toward hipness. They may delay people like Barsotti from sending resumes to companies in socially exciting cities -- a thought she's entertained many times.

But not for long.

As officials consider future development, they might turn toward renaissance cities that have satisfied young professionals. Otherwise, Worcester risks continued yuppie flight. Says Dell'Aquila, "This isn't a blue-collar town anymore. Worcester needs to consider its young professionals or risk the downward spiral."

Thus becoming another urban washout.

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

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