MassDevelopment has executed a letter of intent with Metro West Collaborative Development for the sale of a 6.6-acre parcel at Adams Circle in Devens, paving the way for a new affordable multifamily community. The nonprofit affordable housing developer plans to construct 65 new apartments on the site, marking a notable step in the area’s residential pipeline.
The proposed project is among the first housing developments enabled by the Mass Leads Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Maura Healey in November 2024. That legislation removed a longstanding cap that had limited the total number of housing units in Devens to 282. With the cap eliminated, MassDevelopment is now able to solicit proposals from developers for multiple sites that were already zoned for residential use, including the Adams Circle parcel.
The multifamily plan calls for six residential buildings at Adams Circle, all dedicated to affordable housing. According to the proposal, apartments would be reserved for households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income, targeting a range of lower- and moderate-income renters. The project structure underscores a mission-driven approach by Metro West Collaborative Development to expand income-restricted housing options.
To advance the concept and layout for the site, Metro West Collaborative Development has partnered with Utile, Inc., an urban design and architecture firm. Utile is working with the nonprofit on the housing site plan for the Adams Circle property, helping to shape building placement, circulation, and overall design for the six-building community.
The organization currently anticipates that vertical construction would take place over a multi-year period, with building activity estimated to occur from 2029 through 2031. While specific construction phasing, delivery timing, and lease-up strategy have not been detailed, the timeline signals a longer-term pipeline addition rather than an imminent delivery of new units.
Financial terms for the site transaction and development have not been disclosed, and the capital stack, including any public or private funding sources, has not been outlined. Even so, the combination of MassDevelopment’s land disposition and the policy shift created by the Mass Leads Act positions the Adams Circle proposal as an early example of how the new framework may increase the supply of income-restricted housing in Devens.
