The specific plans for the bus hub are new to me, and look like a good idea. More on it:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20120312/NEWS/120319947
The survey that I got about the Grove street dorm was basically to determine the sizes of the units. Interestingly, after the housing lottery was over this year, Residential services still had rooms left over, in contrast with several previous years after the most recent dorm on Boynton street was built.
Here's an old factory that's going to be turned to apartments.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20120301/NEWS/120309976
Worcester State University is going to build another dorm by 2014 and a gym in 2015.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20120306/NEWS/103069980