With 36 Becker College buildings, Worcester neighborhood faces uncertain future
WORCESTER As Becker College s impending closure looms over the Elm Park neighborhood and Worcester, nearby property owners and city officials hope that the college s property is taken over by responsible owners. Each campus is an economic engine in and of itself, Timothy P. Murray, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said, The loss of Becker both in the Highland Street, Elm Park neighborhood and Leicester is a blow to both the neighborhood and regional economy. The disposition of assets is going to be important to try to make sure we are collectively trying to infill the neighborhood in a way that supports the neighborhood businesses.
WORCESTER Clark University plans to continue using parts of Becker College’s Worcester campus as it takes over the closing institution s video game programs next year.
Clark President David Fithian said Clark intends to lease both Becker’s Colleen C. Barrett Center at 80 Williams St. and Weller Academic Center at 61 Sever St. The university may also lease a residence hall in the area, depending on how many students enroll in the program next year.
The arrangement will allow students who are currently pursuing a gaming degree at Becker to be able to continue their studies at the campus.
Clark, meanwhile, plans to configure its existing Main Street campus to eventually subsume the program, which it is calling the Becker School of Design & Technology.