BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration on Monday released an inventory of more than 450 acres of surplus state-owned land that could support the development of over 3,500 new housing units across Massachusetts, with another 1,500 units already in progress.
According to a statement from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), 17 additional sites are expected to become available to developers in the next year. The state will issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for ten sites and plans to auction seven more in September 2025.
“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 Maura Healey. “These 450 acres will be turned into thousands of new homes that families, seniors and workers can actually afford.”
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll added, “From Pittsfield to Plymouth, we’re unlocking public land to build a more affordable, inclusive Massachusetts. By unlocking public land, we’re turning surplus lots into living communities – because everyone deserves a key to their own future.”
The release of the inventory follows an executive order from Healey directing EOHLC, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (EOANF), and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) to identify state-owned properties suitable for housing development, excluding protected land such as wetlands and conservation areas.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is working hard to unlock housing production across the state in order to end the housing shortage,” said Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus. Later adding, “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.”
Several surplus state-owned properties are already in the process of being converted into new housing developments:
- Former Boston State Hospital (BSH) Campus: Located in Mattapan, this 175-acre site has been gradually transformed into a residential community. The final phase of redevelopment will deliver 466 additional homes through three projects—Olmsted Green, Olmsted Village, and Harvard Commons—with many units set aside as affordable housing.
- Former Veterans Home at Chelsea: A multi-phase project led by Pennrose LLC is slated to begin construction in late 2025. Initial plans call for 69 units to be completed by 2027, with the full redevelopment expected to total 241 housing units by 2029.
- Former Department of Unemployment Assistance Building: The property at 36 Main Street in Brockton is being redeveloped by New Vision Enterprise, LLC. Plans for the site include the creation of 35 new residential units in the heart of the city’s downtown.
- Parcel SR-25, Roxbury: Urbanica has been provisionally selected to transform this site into a mixed-use development. The project will feature 100 housing units, ground-floor retail, space for the National Center for Afro-American Artists, and a new public park.
- The South Campus at Salem State University: Spanning 23 acres at multiple addresses along Harrison Road and Loring Avenue, this site is under agreement for redevelopment. Once complete, it is expected to provide more than 350 new homes and is currently moving through the permitting process.
“This ambitious, collaborative effort is a key to unlocking state assets and leveraging state ownership to advance these projects,” said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. “The positive impact to our residents and economy will far outweigh the cost to develop these sites.”
DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke said the agency is committed to accelerating the disposition of suitable properties. “We know how important creating new housing units is for the state’s economy, and more importantly for families and communities,” he said.
DCAMM plans to issue RFPs in the coming months for redevelopment of:
- Vacant court buildings in Lowell and Fitchburg,
- Properties at Bridgewater State University (106 Hale St.), and
- Middlesex Community College (210 Springs Rd., Bedford).
Additional sites to be auctioned in September include parcels at the former Westboro State Hospital and the J.T. Berry Rehabilitation Center.
Energy & Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper emphasized environmental safeguards: “Addressing housing needs while protecting land and natural resources is essential for the well-being of our communities and the health of our state.”
In addition, the state plans to release several more surplus properties for housing development beginning in late summer 2025, with additional sites expected to follow through the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. These parcels vary in size and potential but are being evaluated for their suitability to help address the state’s housing shortage.
Upcoming sites include:
- MCI Concord: In partnership with DCAMM and with legislative funding, the Town of Concord is conducting a planning and zoning study to guide the redevelopment of the former correctional facility, with housing as a central component.
- Lowell Superior Court
- 24 Cherry Street, 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
The administration is also collaborating with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to identify surplus transportation-related property suitable for housing.
“Using state owned land for housing production is a proactive way to make Massachusetts affordable,” said Rachel Heller, CEO of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). Later adding, “Offering up land puts another piece of the solution in place, directly addressing the greatest challenge facing the Commonwealth.”
More information on these development opportunities can be found at DCAMM’s State Land For Homes Initiative website.
