MG & the Haynes Celebrate the Silver Hammer Award

Worcester, MA – Businesses in Worcester, MA celebrated achievements this past Thursday, May 20th, with the annual Worcester Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Ceremony. Among the award recipients was The Menkiti Group, a minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate, for both 6 Chatham Street and 401-405 Main Street in Worcester, MA.

6 Chatham Street, also known as Chatham Lofts, is a collection of 24 brand-new luxury apartments in the heart of the Theater District that highlight the buildings unique architectural features. 401-405 Main Street has served as a home for generations of downtown Worcester businesses over the past 167 years, from well-known photographer E.B. Luce to Shacks Clothing, which occupied the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets for nearly half a century, to Community Legal Aid, an essential community-serving non-profit organization which has called the building home for decades.

“At the time of their construction, both 401-405 Main Street and 6 Chatham Street were some of the grandest buildings in the City of Worcester and we believe that still holds true today,” said Mark Rengel, Vice President of Development at The Menkiti Group

The Menkiti Group set out to reconstruct both Worcester landmarks (401-405 Main Street and 6 Chatham Street) by paying respect to the architectural details of the original structure. Their goal is to restore the properties to their former splendor and breathe new life into the halls.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our team at The Menkiti Group is doing to revitalize important, historic buildings in downtown Worcester. As real estate developers, we have a unique opportunity to give back in a transformative way. Through historic façade renovation of properties like 401-405 Main Street and 6 Chatham Street, we are preserving the beautiful architecture that makes Worcester unique,” said Bo Menkiti, Founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group.

Managing the renovation of 401-405 Main Street was Haynes Group, a commercial construction firm who combines quality construction with a level of personalized service. The team upgraded core building systems, constructed a new exterior storefront, and restored the historic façade. Detailed restoration of brick masonry, stone, wood, and cast-iron façade elements was accomplished by Raymond James Restoration with the guidance of architect Greg O’Connor.

“We were really excited to be part of the rehabilitation of this building right in downtown Worcester that has such a storied past, including Shack’s Clothes,” said Jim Russo, Director of Business Development at Haynes Group.

403 Main
Bank of America

“We are grateful for the meticulous restoration completed by local artisans Gregory J. O’Connor Associates Architects, Elton + Hampton Architects, Raymond James Restoration, Haynes Group, and R.P. Masiello who collectively breathed new life into the structures. 401-405 Main Street and 6 Chatham Street are significant pieces of downtown Worcester’s identity and I am proud to work with a team that is committed to preserving these impressive cultural resources for generations to come.” said Rengel from The Menkiti Group.

Both properties received the Silver Hammer Award, a yearly award given by the Chamber to acknowledge construction or rehabilitation projects that provide an extraordinary impact on the physical landscape and assist in revitalizing the community.

“We are honored to have both projects recognized by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and presented with the Silver Hammer Awards,” said Menkiti “and we look forward to continuing our work restoring and revitalizing important buildings which play an enduring role in the continued renaissance of downtown Worcester.”

###

About Haynes Group, Inc.: Haynes Group, Inc. is a family-owned, full service commercial construction company based in Massachusetts and serving Eastern New England.

Founded by brothers Mike and Bryan Haynes in 2001, Haynes Group has earned distinction by providing outstanding customer service while delivering award-winning corporate office, hotel and hospitality, industrial, and retail projects.

About The Menkiti Group: Founded in 2004, The Menkiti Group is a 100% minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Worcester, Massachusetts. The organization was founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate. The Menkiti Group is a double bottom line company, measuring success in terms of financial and positive social impact. The company’s approach to urban neighborhood transformation and investment is centered upon residential and commercial development, residential sales, and commercial brokerage.

The Menkiti Group invests in abandoned and underutilized properties and transforms them into exciting and affordable homes and workspaces. Projects range from single-family residential renovations and the development and tenanting of main street commercial properties, to large-scale, mixed-use, transit-oriented development projects. Over the past 16 years, The Menkiti Group has invested over $225MM in DC’s emerging neighborhoods, worked on the development of over 2.1MM SF of real estate, and has assisted over 2,000 families in purchasing their first homes.

Related Posts