Metro West Collaborative Development to Build 65 Affordable Apartments at Adams Circle in Devens

MassDevelopment has signed a letter of intent to sell a 6.6-acre residential site at Adams Circle in Devens, Massachusetts, to Metro West Collaborative Development, a Newton-based nonprofit affordable housing developer that intends to build 65 new apartments across six buildings on the currently vacant parcel. The announcement, made September 23, 2026, marks one of the first housing developments made possible by the Mass Leads Act, signed by Governor Maura Healey in November 2024.

Project Overview and Affordability Targets

The proposed multifamily development at Adams Circle would serve households earning between 30% and 80% of area median income. The site consists of two parcels — approximately 3.5 acres within the Adams Circle right-of-way and approximately 3.1 acres situated between Adams Circle and Willow Brook — totaling roughly 6.6 acres of residentially zoned land near Devens' commercial center.

Metro West Collaborative Development partnered with Utile, Inc., an urban design and architecture firm, to develop the housing site plan. Construction is estimated to occur between 2029 and 2031. Terms of the sale will be finalized as the project advances through design and permitting.

"We are grateful to MassDevelopment for this opportunity to bring 65 apartments and new residents to the Devens community and contribute to its continued evolution," said Barney Heath, Executive Director of Metro West Collaborative Development. "We look forward to becoming an active and engaged member of the community for many years to come."

Mass Leads Act Unlocks Devens Housing Capacity

Before the Mass Leads Act took effect, Devens was restricted to a maximum of 282 housing units — a cap that had constrained MassDevelopment's ability to develop residentially zoned land even as the broader mixed-use community expanded and attracted employers. The legislation eliminated that restriction, enabling MassDevelopment to issue Requests for Proposals for multiple parcels already zoned for housing.

In December 2025, MassDevelopment issued RFPs for approximately 69.3 acres across two Devens locations: the 6.6-acre Adams Circle site and a Grant Road site. An internal cross-departmental review committee evaluated submissions and recommended Metro West Collaborative Development's proposal for Adams Circle. Proposals for the Grant Road site remain under review.

"Today marks an important step forward in MassDevelopment's efforts to convert a vacant, residentially zoned parcel at Adams Circle into homes for people who want to live in Devens," said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. "We look forward to working with Metro West Collaborative Development and the Devens community to move this proposal from concept to reality."

The Adams Circle selection is part of a broader housing push at Devens. In February 2026, MassDevelopment announced the sale of approximately two acres at 25 Adams Circle to Reframe Systems Inc., which is developing 12 for-purchase townhomes in six duplexes. In August 2026, MassDevelopment announced the sale of a parcel at 77 Grant Road along with a $4 million loan to a real estate development entity affiliated with Elite Home Builders LLC, which is building 46 new mixed-income apartments on that site.

"Through the Mass Leads Act, we lifted the longstanding housing cap at Devens and opened the door to projects like this one," Governor Healey said. "These 65 new apartments will help meet the region's housing needs, support its growing workforce and give more people the opportunity to build their lives in Devens."

Developer Background and Track Record

Established in 1991 and headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, Metro West Collaborative Development has built 205 affordable housing units to date. The organization has completed projects of comparable scale, including Packard Street Commons in Hudson and Glen Brook Way in Medway, and is currently developing 43 affordable apartments at the former West Newton Armory. Metro West Collaborative Development has also provided affordable housing consulting services to the Assabet Regional Housing Consortium since 2013, giving the organization existing familiarity with the Devens community.

Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley, who chairs MassDevelopment's Board of Directors, framed the project within Devens' broader three-decade transformation. "Over the past 30 years, MassDevelopment has transformed Devens from a former military base into a vibrant, mixed-use community that attracts businesses, creates jobs and offers a great place to live," Paley said. "That success has brought more people to the region and increased the need for housing."

Permitting Process and Regional Context

Devens offers a one-stop permitting process administered by the Devens Enterprise Commission, with applications acted on in fewer than 75 days and often in fewer than 45 days. That streamlined entitlement environment could reduce timeline uncertainty relative to conventional Massachusetts development, though the project will still require coordination across affordable-housing financing, design, utilities, and construction.

Devens is a 4,400-acre planned community located approximately 35 miles west of Boston. The site was formerly Fort Devens, which served as the U.S. Army's New England headquarters for 79 years before closing in 1996. MassDevelopment has managed its redevelopment into a mixed-use community ever since.

The Adams Circle proposal arrives as housing demand in the broader Boston metropolitan multifamily market continues to outpace new supply. Year-to-date absorption through August 2026 reached approximately 6,400 units against roughly 3,600 deliveries, with asking rents averaging around $3,010 per month and annual rent growth at approximately 2.0%. Vacancy figures have varied across product types, with Class C units recording vacancy of approximately 3.6% as of June 2026, well below Class A at 8.0%. Those dynamics underscore the rationale for income-restricted and workforce-oriented housing in the region, even as conventional apartment development has faced headwinds from elevated construction costs and financing constraints.

State legislators representing the region expressed support for the project. "This project will create new homes for working families and individuals across a range of incomes, while helping meet a critical housing need in our region," said Senator John J. Cronin. Senator Jamie Eldridge called the announcement "a historic step forward for new housing at Devens" and cited Metro West Collaborative Development's "excellent track record of building beautiful, truly affordable housing across Massachusetts." Representative Danillo Sena also voiced support, noting the regional need for reasonably priced housing.

MassDevelopment reported that in fiscal year 2026 it financed or managed 538 projects, generating more than $6.52 billion in investment, supporting an estimated 42,113 jobs, and helping create or preserve 4,355 housing units statewide.