New inventory directed by Governor Healey unlocks potential for over 3,500 new housing units and 1,500 new units already underway on state-owned properties, 17 additional sites expected to become available to developers in the next year

Boston - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today released an inventory of more than 450 acres of surplus state-owned land that could be used for the development of 3,500 new housing units across Massachusetts. The administration expects to make 17 additional sites available to developers in the next year, including issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for ten sites and holding an auction for an additional seven sites in September 2025. 

Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz and Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Adam Baacke convened housing developers today to share the results of the inventory and more information about upcoming opportunities to partner on developing the land for housing.

Governor Maura Healey previously signed an Executive Order directing the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (EOANF), and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to develop the inventory, which will be used to support the administration's multi-pronged efforts to increase housing production and lower costs across the state. 

“From day one, I pledged to use every tool to build more housing and lower costs across the state. That’s why I directed our team to find state properties that could be turned into housing,” said Governor Healey. “These 450 acres will be turned into thousands of new homes that families, seniors and workers can actually afford. We are already getting shovels in the ground for thousands of these units, and we’ll continue to work closely with several developers to get even more projects started.” 

“From Pittsfield to Plymouth, we’re unlocking public land to build a more affordable, inclusive Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By unlocking public land, we’re turning surplus lots into living communities – because everyone deserves a key to their own future.”

Over the past year, at Governor Healey’s direction, HLC, A&F, and DCAMM conducted a comprehensive review of DCAMM’s property inventory to identify sites that are state-owned, underutilized, and viable for housing development while being mindful of environmental considerations by exempting protected open space, wetlands and flood plains.   

“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is working hard to unlock housing production across the state in order to end the housing shortage. We know what a home means when it comes to offering an individual or family stability in their community,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. “Utilizing state-owned land to accelerate housing development makes good sense. The opportunity for new housing from this inventory, which spans over 20 municipalities, is unique, and just the beginning of an ongoing process to leverage even more state-owned land that is suitable for new homes.” 

“This ambitious, collaborative effort is a key to unlocking state assets and leveraging state ownership to advance these projects, some of which have the potential to produce hundreds of units of housing. The positive impact to our residents and economy will far outweigh the cost to develop these sites and I am excited to see these projects come to life,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz.

Several projects are already underway to repurpose these surplus state properties, with more than 1,500 units already in the pipeline. Some examples include:

• Former Boston State Hospital (BSH) Campus: Since the closure of the ~175-acre Campus located in Mattapan, the site has been redeveloped into a mix of uses, including new rental and ownership housing, The final phases of BSH redevelopment will include 466 new rental and homeownership units, many of which are deed restricted affordable, across the three final projects: Olmsted Green, Olmsted Village, and Harvard Commons. 
• Former Veterans Home at Chelsea:?Phase I of the redevelopment of the former Veterans Home at Chelsea domiciliary by Pennrose LLC will break ground toward the end of 2025, yielding the first 69 units of the project in 2027 and will ultimately create 241 units by 2029.
• Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Building: DCAMM has designated New Vision Enterprise, LLC to redevelop 36 Main Street in Brockton. Their proposal will create 35 units of new housing in downtown Brockton.
• Parcel SR-25, Roxbury – The Boston Planning Department has provisionally designated Urbanica to redevelop this site to include 100 units of housing, retail storefronts, a satellite location for the National Center for Afro-American Artists, as well as a public park.  
• The South Campus at Salem State University, including 8, 11, & 20-32 Harrison Road & 262 Loring Avenue in Salem – the 23-acre parcel is under agreement for the development of housing and expected to yield over 350 units. This project is currently in the permitting phase.   

“As the Commonwealth’s primary real estate agency, DCAMM is excited to be able to support the Administration’s efforts to leverage state assets to help improve housing accessibility, availability, and affordability in Massachusetts,” said Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Adam Baacke. “We know how important creating new housing units is for the state’s economy, and more importantly for families and communities and look forward to accelerating the disposition of these and other properties.”  

Over the next six months, DCAMM, in consultation with HLC, will issue solicitations for prospective developers for several parcels including:  

• Request For Proposals (RFPs) that will be issued to redevelop several vacant court buildings in partnership with the cities of Lowell (district court) and Fitchburg. 
• RFPs will also be issued for sites at Bridgewater State University (106 Hale St.) and Middlesex Community College (210 Springs Rd. in Bedford) to redevelop almost eight acres of vacant lots near their campuses for housing in those communities. 

Among the properties that DCAMM will auction in September are multiple parcels across two sites that were formerly part of State Hospital campuses -the former Westboro State Hospital and the former J.T. Berry Rehabilitation Center.

HLC, A&F and DCAMM worked closely with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to ensure that valuable conservation and agricultural land continues to be protected from development, preserving the state’s natural resources. As a result, all land protected under Article 97 and agricultural preservation restrictions have been excluded from consideration. In addition, each site was carefully reviewed with EEA to ensure sensitive areas are properly identified and appropriately considered.  

“Addressing housing needs while protecting land and natural resources is essential for the well-being of our communities and the health of our state,” said Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This whole-of-government approach is necessary to effectively tackle these challenges, ensuring policies across sectors are aligned to meet housing needs, support responsible development, and improve our ability to respond to a changing climate. This coordinated effort will ensure that we create vibrant, livable communities without compromising the health of our environment.”  

Looking further ahead, in addition to the many projects listed above, several additional sites with housing potential, ranging in size and scope, will be made available to developers as soon as late summer 2025, with the rest to follow throughout the second half of 2025 and into 2026.

• MCI Concord: Working closely with DCAMM, using funding appropriated by the Legislature, the Town of Concord has undertaken a planning and zoning study for a redevelopment effort that will include a significant housing component. Additional information on this project can also be found on the project page.  
• Lowell Superior Court 
• 24 Cherry St., Wenham 
• Eastville Avenue, Oak Bluffs 
• Additional vacant and underutilized property at Bridgewater State University 
• Additional vacant and underutilized property at Middlesex Community College
• Former Industrial School for Girls in Lancaster 
• Former Monson Developmental Center Campus 

Governor Healey has also directed HLC and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to identify surplus and underutilized property owned by the transportation agencies for housing production.   

The Healey-Driscoll Administration is also continuing to collaborate with municipal officials and other state partners to identify additional parcels for housing development. As these projects move forward in their development, updated information will be available on the DCAMM housing website.  

Statements of Support

Frederick Clark, Bridgewater State University President: 
“Bridgewater State University is pleased to partner with the state in its critically important and innovative effort to construct new housing for the commonwealth. Our disposition of 106 Hale Street in Bridgewater is also in alignment with the Bridgewater State University and Town of Bridgewater Master Plans.”

Jeff Daley, President & CEO, Westmass Area Development Corporation: 
“Westmass Area Development Corporation is excited to lead the redevelopment of the former state-owned Monson Developmental Center into new housing and supporting economic and community development initiatives. With the leadership and support of the Healey-Driscoll administration, this decades long-vacant property will finally be revitalized in a way that complements the Town of Monson and creates much-needed housing and economic opportunities for the community.”

Thomas Golden, Lowell City Manager: 
“The goal of the City of Lowell today is to let developers know that Lowell is open for business. Lowell appreciates the opportunity presented by the Healey-Driscoll Administration to showcase our beautiful City that boasts pride, culture and community that are steps away from our commuter rail. Developers will be impressed with our concierge permitting process that is hassle free and welcoming for developers to build commercial properties or expand our market rate, affordable ownership and workforce homes.”

Chief Justice Heidi Brieger and Court Administrator Thomas Ambrosino: 
“We are pleased that these buildings will continue to serve their communities.”

Emily Haber, President & CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC): 
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration continues to show their commitment to addressing the critical housing shortage in Massachusetts through innovative means. Working with the administration on building affordable housing on surplus state-owned land will reduce the overly burdensome development timeline and cost that currently stimies development.”

Rachel Heller, CEO, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA): 
“Using state owned land for housing production is a proactive way to make Massachusetts affordable. Changing zoning, funding affordable housing production, and investing in infrastructure foster the environment to create the homes that people need. Offering up land puts another piece of the solution in place, directly addressing the greatest challenge facing the Commonwealth. CHAPA applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for identifying and making land available so these development opportunities can turn into the homes that people, our communities, and businesses need to thrive.”