Monson Campus

A landmark milestone — and a new chapter begins

On May 11, 2026, Monson’s Annual Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to adopt the Planned Village District (PVD) zoning bylaw, establishing the framework for redevelopment of the 108-acre former Monson Developmental Center campus. This vote marks nearly a year of planning and community engagement, and it’s the starting point for the real work ahead.

The PVD creates two subdistricts shaped to fit different parts of the campus: a 48-acre mixed-use and multifamily residential district supporting a walkable village center with housing, retail, and neighborhood-serving commercial uses, and a 60-acre lower-density district for single-family homes, townhomes, and cottage-style development. Together, they create the conditions for a diverse, mixed-income community that honors the site’s history while opening the door to private investment and new tax revenue for the Town.

Westmass Area Development Corporation is leading this redevelopment in close partnership with the Town of Monson, reflecting the community’s values and long-term goals for the site.

Project Priorities (Current Phase)

With zoning now in place, Westmass is advancing predevelopment work across several fronts:

Site Preparation & Infrastructure: Demolition, environmental remediation, and infrastructure planning — including reconstruction of State Hospital Road and the State Hospital Road Bridge — are underway, with engineering and remediation oversight guiding work across the site.

Concept & Site Planning: Refining concept plans for each subdistrict with our design team, including village-center layout, housing types, and open space.

Comprehensive Planning: Westmass and our project team are advancing a comprehensive plan for the site, building on the PVD framework with deeper community engagement and implementation planning.

Site Marketing & Developer Engagement: Reaching out to prospective developers and partners to bring private investment to the site.

What’s Next?

Westmass is developing a phased redevelopment strategy that balances housing, economic development, open space, and other community priorities. As concept plans take shape, we’ll share more details, seek developer interest, and continue to engage residents and stakeholders through the comprehensive planning process now underway.

Message from Our CEO

“With the Town of Monson’s overwhelming vote to approve the Planned Village District, we’ve crossed an important threshold in transforming the former Monson Developmental Center into a mixed-use community that helps advance the housing and economic development goals of our region. This vote is not the finish line – it’s the starting point for the real work of bringing this vision to life. Through strategic planning, strong public-private partnerships, and continued collaboration with Monson residents, Westmass will remediate, repurpose, and revitalize this long-dormant site in a way that honors the Town’s character and creates lasting value for the community.”

— Jeff Daley, President & CEO, Westmass