Most Endangered Structures
Since 1995, Preservation Worcester has published an annual list of Most Endangered Structures.
The List alerts the public to threats to some of our city’s most historic treasures and garners
city-wide attention to the condition of the structures and their importance to the city landscape.
The Criteria For The Designation Includes:
• Pre-1974 structures located in Worcester that are significant for their historic, architectural, and/or cultural contributions to the landscape of the city.
• Structures that are threatened by neglect, demolition, alteration, deterioration, and/or type of use.
• Any structure, including residential, commercial, industrial, or institutional buildings, bridges, monuments, parks, burial grounds – even entire neighborhoods, city blocks, or a particular type of building or building elements.
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The Most Endangered Structures Committee solicits nominations from the community at large, reviews nominations, and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors of Preservation Worcester for approval.
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The committee will monitor the properties over the course of the ensuing year. Often, the List serves as a catalyst for restoration and preservation.
For the full list with details, click the image below.
What You Can Do
Help Us Identify Other
At-Risk Properties
​​Consider nominating other endangered properties by completing the nomination form below.
The form may be emailed to
info@preservationworcester.org
or mailed to
Preservation Worcester
61 Harvard Street Worcester, MA 01609
Take Action in 2024
There are several city-owned properties on the 2023 Endangered Structures List, including the Barn at Hope Cemetery, Pillars and Monuments and carriage houses. Use these following resources to help you communicate with your local councilor.
The Barn at Hope Cemetery and
Pillars & Monuments
Use this customizable letter template to send a letter or an email to your local Worcester City Councilor to express your concern.
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To find the name and contact information for your local councilor, visit the City of Worcester website here.
Carriage Houses and Barns
Could Carriage Houses and Barns Be a Future Solution to Address the Housing Challenge?
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Carriage houses are outbuildings near a larger home. They were typically built to store horses and horse drawn carriages. By the 1920s motor vehicles made carriage houses obsolete and they evolved into garages, home offices, and studios.
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Carriage houses and barns are often subject to neglect and / or demolition because they cannot be inhabited as accessory apartments according to Worcester Zoning Ordinance. Revising the ordinance to allow those structures residential use would preserve historic buildings, diversify housing choices, create more housing units, and provide less expensive housing.
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Contact your local Councilor and request they consider amending the city ordinances to allow ancillary uses for carriage houses and barns.
To find the name and contact information for your local councilor, visit the City of Worcester website here.