Mixed-Use Development Slated For Northampton Hospital Site

NORTHAMPTON, MA-The Community Builders Inc. and MassDevelopment, the state’s redevelopment agency, have formed a joint venture to develop the site of the former Northampton State Hospital, the largest piece of real estate with development potential here. The site will have 400,000 sf of commercial space, part of which will be a high-tech business park, and more than 200 new homes, a village center, a 60- to 80-unit assisted living facility for seniors and possibly a community center/museum area. It is situated less than a mile from downtown Northampton.

“We want to create an urban village,” says Gerald Joseph, office director of the Springfield office of the Community Builders. “Many years of planning and community design went into this.” The site, which has been vacant since 1993, was originally one of 12 state mental hospitals which sat on 500 acres. Nearly 75% of that land has been put into preservation.

Provisional development of the site was designated in 1998 to Community Builders, which will be responsible for the residential development. MassDevelopment was brought in as a partner to handle the commercial development.