I have worked downtown since 1986. One of the biggest problems that I see is that many of the new construction projects are self containing. Look at MedCity. It is a great facility, 
but if you work or need to visit someone there, why would you ever leave the facility. You can park your car, eat, shop and go to the gym.
Although I have not been inside UNUM”s new offices, I bet you that they have the same type of set-up. Same goes for Chestnut Place, which has a great place to eat. Taking nothing away from the people who run these dining establishments in these buildings, we need people to come out of their offices and walk around the downtown area. Construction works to achieve this should be promoted.
The former Telegram is slated to have some 37 million pumped into it, mostly tax payer monies not to mention another HUD loan guaranteed by the City of Worcester (3 million). I remember, however plans for a 5,000 square foot restaurant. Although it may be inconvenient for the occupants not to have an in-house facility to eat, I hope the City Council strongly opposes a 5,000 square foot restaurant. There are options elsewhere for people to go eat, especially with modular restaurants (like those here:https://bmarkostructures.com/modular-restaurants/) being constructed easily these days.
We need people to come out of these offices and make downtown vibrant, not to mention support the businesses that have already made a commitment to downtown. Here is the listing information for One City Place:
