Another step closer; Agreement gives CitySquare a major boost.

COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION

Thanks to a concerted effort by city and state officials and Berkeley Investments, the mixed-use urban village envisioned in downtown Worcester just moved a giant step closer to becoming a bricks-and-mortar reality. In a welcome development, the Patrick administration has given preliminary approval to changes in the initial CitySquare agreement to allow use of public funds to get demolition and infrastructure work under way.

The restructured agreement is significant because the sluggish state economy and housing market have blocked tangible progress on the project for the past two years. The changes in the agreement mean that when Berkeley Investments has met the new development benchmarks, the long-anticipated wrecking ball can swing at the former Worcester Common Outlets mall at last.

The $563 million project is a true public-private partnership. The complex arrangement involves private investment, bolstered by state and municipal funds for public infrastructure such as streets and a garage.

The key change is reduction in the amount of development needed to release $25 million in state infrastructure funds. That will happen when the developer has leased 140,000 square feet, less than half the original trigger point. Written into the agreement are development benchmarks to ensure the project will generate tax revenue needed to offset the city's share.

Along with City Manager Michael V. O'Brien and Berkeley's Young K. Park, several top Patrick administration officials were involved in hammering out the new agreement, including Leslie A. Kirwan, administration and finance secretary, and Dan O'Connell, housing and economic development secretary. Also keeping the process moving was Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray, who as Worcester mayor led political efforts to redevelop the mall.

When CitySquare was launched amid much fanfare in 2004, Mr. Park cautioned city leaders that there likely would be unanticipated bumps along the way and that patience and perseverance would be required. He certainly was right about the bumps along the way. The new development agreement suggests his confidence that patience and perseverance would prevail was on target as well.