$330K Advances Local Economic Development Goals
MassDevelopment Awards Funding for Public Surplus Property Reuse Assistance & District Management Tools through Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program
December 8, 2021
Kelsey Schiller, 617-694-9695
kschiller@massdevelopment.com
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| The City of Greenfield will use a $25,000 award to develop an RFP for the First National Bank Building, the last unresolved property in the city’s Bank Row Urban Renewal District, targeting a project that will further revitalize the downtown. |
BOSTON – MassDevelopment has awarded up to $330,000 in funding for 14 cities and towns through its Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program to address site-specific and district-wide economic development challenges. Through a combination of in-house expertise and contracts with consultants, under this program MassDevelopment works with municipal officials, planners, local stakeholders, and others to address priority planning and development projects through creative solutions and clear, implementable action steps. Awards will support public surplus property reuse, including feasibility analyses and Requests for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) development, and the implementation of local district management tools such as Business Improvement Districts and District Improvement Financing.
“The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to helping communities achieve their economic development goals,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, who serves as chair of MassDevelopment’s Board of Directors. “MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program is one of the many tools available to cities and towns in Massachusetts looking to revitalize key properties and improve their downtowns.”
“By offering access to our in-house expertise and range of consultants, MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program helps cities and towns move the ball forward on important economic development projects in their communities,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Dan Rivera. “The projects receiving awards today will advance housing and job creation, property redevelopment, and increased vibrancy in our downtown neighborhoods.”
Created in 2017, MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program has awarded $1.37 million to help 39 communities advance their economic development goals through 41 projects. MassDevelopment announced the opening of the FY22 round in July 2021. Eligible organizations could apply for awards ranging from approximately $5,000 to $50,000. Beginning next year, the Real Estate Services Technical Assistance program will be part of Community One Stop for Growth, a single application portal and collaborative review process for community and economic development grant programs that make targeted investments based on a Development Continuum.
FY22 Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Awarded Projects:
Town of Abington – $25,000
The Town of Abington will use this award for a feasibility study to evaluate the Center School at 65 Thaxter Ave., including infrastructural and abatement needs and the potential to transform the building into transit-oriented affordable housing.
City of Attleboro – $5,000
The City of Attleboro will use this award for a preliminary analysis of the reuse and restoration of the East Attleborough Academy Building at 28 Sanford St., which, constructed in 1842, is the last remaining building from the original village of Attleborough and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
City of Brockton – $25,000
The City of Brockton will use this award for the planning and implementation of a Business Improvement District (BID) that encompasses downtown Brockton.
Town of Buckland – $10,000
The Town of Buckland will use this award to prepare a former Town Highway Department garage at 50 Conway St. for private acquisition and redevelopment.
City of Fall River – $20,000
The City of Fall River will use this award to study the historic downtown retail and business core of the city focusing on underutilized parking lots and their redevelopment potential.
City of Fitchburg – $45,000
The City of Fitchburg will use this award to repurpose the former Wanoosnoc Road School building located on seven-plus acres at 44 Wanoosnoc Rd. near downtown Fitchburg. The City will assess existing conditions and engage the community to determine the highest and best use in order to develop a competitive RFP for the redevelopment of the property.
Town of Foxborough – $25,000
The Town of Foxborough, through the Foxborough Housing Authority, seeks to lease 16 acres at the intersection of Walnut Street and Route 140 to a private developer for the development of affordable senior housing, and will use this award to analyze responses to its RFP.
City of Gardner – $10,000
The City of Gardner will use this award for a study to support District Improvement Financing (DIF) that will address sewer infrastructure needs across non-contiguous areas including the downtown and the Mill Street Corridor Urban Renewal Areas.
City of Greenfield – $25,000
The City of Greenfield will use this award to develop an RFP for the First National Bank Building, the last unresolved property in the city’s Bank Row Urban Renewal District, targeting a project that will further revitalize the downtown.
City of Lynn – $55,000
The City of Lynn will use a $5,000 award for a planning effort to coordinate state and local agencies to identify a path forward for viaducts owned by the MBTA that are located across 10,419 square feet under the MBTA Commuter Rail in downtown Lynn.
The City of Lynn, through the Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corporation, will use a $50,000 award to fund a district masterplan to support the redevelopment of the former Whyte’s Enterprise Laundry site at 83 Willow St. and increase investment at other public and private parcels on Willow St. The City seeks to re-densify the urban core, through a mix of retail, housing, and office uses that contribute to its vitality and potential as an “18-hour” downtown economy. MassDevelopment also provided awards from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund in 2017 ($99,500), 2019 ($248,000), and 2020 ($250,000) to support redevelopment of the former Whyte’s Enterprise Laundry site.
Town of Montague – $35,000
The Town of Montague will use this award to complete a property reuse assessment of the Strathmore Mill Complex at 20 Canal St. that will help advance redevelopment of the canal district’s north end. MassDevelopment also provided an award from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund in 2019 ($250,000) to support redevelopment of the Strathmore Mill Complex.
City of Revere – $10,000
The City of Revere will use this award to complete a reuse assessment for the McKinley School building at 65 Yeamans St., with the goal to have nonprofit or for-profit entities partner with the city to use the space for educational or workforce-development programming.
Town of Seekonk – $25,000
The Town of Seekonk will use this award to develop an opportunities and constraints analysis in support of the redevelopment of the 7.8-acre Attleboro Dye Works site at 36 Maple Ave. The town has identified two acres for redevelopment with the remainder envisioned for open space and river access. MassDevelopment also provided an award from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund in 2017 ($99,800) and 2020 ($250,000) to support redevelopment of the Attleboro Dye Works site.
City of Taunton – $15,000
The City of Taunton will use this award to perform an opportunities and constraints analysis to inform the transformation of a municipally owned vacant corner lot at 56 Taunton Green into a mixed-use building.
MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2021, MassDevelopment financed or managed 416 projects generating investment of more than $1.86 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 6,578 jobs and build or preserve 1,909 housing units.
