NATICK, MA-The town of Framingham is considering what to do with a 14.5-acre parcel it owns here. An effort to sell the parcel to a developer was rejected because many residents want to see the property remain as conservation land.

WORCESTER, MA- The University of Massachusetts-affiliated Worcester City Campus Corp. acquires 100 Century Dr. here in the Worcester Corporate Center for $6.8 million. The 81,500-sf building will be used by the University of Massachusetts Medical School while its building undergoes an approximately $50 million renovation.

BOSTON-The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority delays putting out the request for proposals to design the surface artery here--the huge swath of land that will run through the heart of the city here when the Big Dig puts the highway underground.

NORTH ANDOVER, MA-Lucent Technologies Inc. is in negotiations to give its manufacturing work here to a contract manufacturer. A spokeswoman for the company tells GlobeSt.com that the move will mainly affect the company's major plant here.

STOW, MA-In an effort to increase the diversity of the town's housing stock and to give more local control over residential projects built here, the town considers requiring potential developers to include a certain percentage of affordable housing in their projects.

GREATER BOSTON-It is yet to be determined how Kmart Corp.'s filing for Chapter 11 reorganization will impact the 29 stores the discount retailer has in this state. A local specialist in shopping center sales tells GlobeSt.com that the bankruptcy process could be a cumbersome one for area shopping center owners.

HOPKINTON, MA-Miraj Ahmed receives approvals from this town's zoning board of appeals to develop a 56-unit condominium complex here on School Street. There was concern over the project's impact on the local water supply but the developer has agreed to dig a well to serve the complex.

GREATER BOSTON-Despite the recession, Home Depot continues to expand its presence in the area. The national home-improvement chain, which already has 27 stores in the state, plans to open seven more stores here within the next year.