Healey-Driscoll Administration Transfers Monson Campus to Westmass for Housing and Economic Development

“Westmass Area Development Corporation is committed to transforming the Monson Development Center into a vibrant, mixed-use community that meets the housing and economic development needs of the region. Through strategic planning, strong public-private partnerships, and phased redevelopment, Westmass will remediate, repurpose, and revitalize the long-dormant site in a way that complements and maintains the Town of Monson’s character,” said Westmass President and CEO Jeff Daley.

This article is adapted and revised from a MassLive report dated June 24, 2025.

MONSON, MA — The Healey-Driscoll Administration has initiated the transfer of over 100 acres of the long-vacant Monson Developmental Center Campus to Westmass Area Development Corporation, advancing a major redevelopment effort aimed at revitalizing the site through new housing and economic opportunities.

Governor Maura Healey underscored the potential impact:
“This is a great opportunity for Monson, the region and the state, as this site offers major housing and economic development potential. This transfer demonstrates our focus on utilizing existing properties to build more housing, provide new opportunities for local businesses, and lower costs. Our administration is committed to supporting Westmass and the Town in order to maximize that potential.”

Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll added:
“This campus has stood vacant and not contributing back to the community for far too long. Activating a campus of this size in a rural area will unlock sustainable economic growth. Our administration is tackling the housing crisis head-on, and this redevelopment will be transformative for the Town.”

The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) is completing the transfer under the authority of Section 54 of Chapter 206 of the Acts of 2024. The land is being conveyed to Westmass for $1, with the understanding that it will be redeveloped into a mix of housing and commercial uses.

To support this transformation, the Healey-Driscoll Administration is providing a $9 million Site Readiness Grant to help Westmass begin demolition, environmental remediation, and infrastructure improvements needed to prepare the site for redevelopment. Additional funding sources are being explored collaboratively between the state and Westmass.

Ed Augustus, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, stated:
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration is working hard to end our state’s housing shortage, and we need strong partnerships that will help us act quickly to unlock housing production and build the hundreds of thousands of units this crisis demands. It’s crucial to help move projects like this forward, and the Westmass Monson Campus redevelopment will provide needed homes for local Monson residents and spur economic growth with new jobs and revenue.”

Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba echoed that sentiment:
“This redevelopment is a prime example of how we are leveraging underutilized state assets to address housing issues and drive economic growth in communities across Massachusetts. This is a long-term solution and we are backing it with a long-term commitment to provide through sustained funding to prepare the site and unlock its full potential.”

DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke emphasized the importance of Westmass’s leadership in the project:
“On behalf of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are excited to find a partner like Westmass to redevelop a campus that has been vacant since 2012. With a beautiful setting, proximity to transportation infrastructure and a welcoming municipality, having a mission-driven master developer with a great track record taking control of the property can be the final piece to leverage the tremendous potential of this site for both housing production and economic development.”

Following site readiness work, Westmass plans to make development parcels available to a range of partners to implement a phased redevelopment approach. In addition to housing, the campus is expected to include commercial and industrial uses to grow the local tax base and create jobs.

Daley added:
“We are excited to begin this long-overdue project. The strong leadership and commitment from the Healey-Driscoll Administration has made this opportunity possible by identifying the Monson Development Center as a site that can deliver meaningful impact through much-needed housing and economic development. Westmass is proud to take the lead in transforming this former dormant state property into a revitalized part of the community that will benefit Monson and the region for generations to come.”

In parallel with the development effort:

• 458 acres are being prepared for transfer to the Department of Fish and Game for conservation and recreation use.

• 42 acres will remain under the care of the Department of Agricultural Resources for continued farming operations.

Demolition work has already begun to remove deteriorating structures on the property. Additional details and maps are available on DCAMM’s project page.

About Westmass

With a broad range of professional and technical expertise in both the public and private sectors, Westmass Area Development Corporation (Westmass) shapes and manage large-scale development projects, prepare district development strategies, and has successfully develop financing and incentive packages. Westmass staff has extensive experience in site planning and analysis, green infrastructure and low impact development, and historic preservation projects.

About DCAMM

The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) works with state agencies to create and manage forward-thinking, sustainable buildings to meet the needs of the people they serve. DCAMM partners with fellow agencies to help them meet their strategic needs with fiscally responsible building and real estate solutions.

Statements of Support

Senator Ryan Fattman:
“This is an exciting economic and residential opportunity for development for many years to come. I look forward to working with the Town of Monson, its residents and leaders, and the State to ensure that this site helps contribute to the community in a positive, constructive, and helpful way.”

Representative Angelo Puppolo:
“I am pleased to support this project and to see the progress being made to redevelop and revitalize this vacant campus. I commend the work of the Administration, DCAMM and Westmass in moving this long-overdue project forward. This project will be transformative for the Town, and I appreciate the effort is has taken to arrive at this great moment.”

Jennifer Wolowicz, Town Administrator, Town of Monson:
“The transfer of the developable areas of the Monson campus to Westmass represents an exciting step forward in unlocking the site’s potential. We’re confident that Westmass’s proven track record in responsible development will bring new opportunities for economic growth while respecting the character and needs of our community. This partnership is a promising beginning for a vibrant new chapter in Monson’s future.”