Westmass Moves Forward With 108-Acre Mixed-Use Redevelopment at Former Monson Campus

The town of Monson has approved a new planned village district (PVD) to revitalize the 108-acre former Monson Developmental Center, a state hospital campus that has sat idle for years. Tasked with the redevelopment, Westmass Area Development Corp. will now advance predevelopment planning and initial demolition, which is estimated to cost approximately $16 million. The project aims to transition the site from a dormant property into a hub for housing, light industrial, research, and retail activity.

The zoning framework divides the 108-acre property into two distinct subdistricts. Subdistrict A spans 48 acres and is intended for a walkable village center featuring multi-family housing, office space, and commercial uses at densities up to 15 units per acre. Subdistrict B covers the remaining 60 acres and focuses on lower-density residential, including single-family homes, townhomes, and cottage clusters. Following the planned 2027 completion of demolition, the site will require extensive infrastructure improvements, such as new utilities, roads, a bridge over Sawmill Brook, and upgrades to an existing water tower.