WORCESTER, MA. — A Worcester apartment complex once at the center of a high-profile roof collapse and legal battle has been sold for $8.64 million, according to property records.
The 32-unit building at 267 Mill St. was purchased Thursday by local developer Michael Ermani, head of Premier Investment Properties. The five-acre property changed hands from Fren Management, a Billerica-based firm run by Bechara and Michelle Fren, who had acquired it in June 2022 for $5.8 million.
Just weeks after that purchase, a pile of construction materials collapsed onto the roof, forcing the evacuation of roughly 80 residents. Fren Management later sought court approval to clear out belongings left behind, sparking countersuits from tenants who said they were rushed to retrieve their possessions under unsafe conditions, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
A Complete Overhaul
Since then, the three-story building—originally constructed in 1989—has undergone a top-to-bottom renovation. Ermani said the upgrades, which included new sprinklers and elevators, were what drew him to the property.
“They went through the whole entire building, it’s pretty much a new build,” he said. “My ownership will be just like with the other properties we own in Worcester—we take care of them.”
The building spans about 36,000 square feet and was most recently assessed at $5 million for 2025, according to city property records.
Expanding Worcester Portfolio
Ermani has been steadily growing his Worcester real estate holdings. In June, he purchased residential buildings at 2 Delldale St., 201 Dewey St., and 13 Elizabeth St., and said he plans to acquire roughly 200 units in 2025.
His strategy, he said, is to offer high-quality apartments at prices more accessible than newer luxury developments downtown. “We want to provide options that are still affordable, but with the upgrades tenants expect,” he said, adding that more deals are in the pipeline this year.
