Residential Development on Grant Road, Devens, MA

Location:	Massachusetts
Posted:	Dec 22, 2025
Due:	Feb 27, 2026
Agency:	MA Economic Development & Finance Agency
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	G - Social Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

THE DEVELOPMENT OF

±62.7 ACRES OF RESIDENTIAL LAND ALONG

GRANT ROAD, DEVENS, MA

ISSUED: DECEMBER 22, 2025

PROPOSALS DUE: FEBRUARY 27, 2026

PROJECT WEBSITE:

https://www.massdevelopment.com/rfps-and-rfqs/

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PROJECT SUMMARY.........................................................................................................2

2. ABOUT DEVENS ................................................................................................................3

3. GRANT ROAD: SITE DESCRIPTION..................................................................................6

4. PERMITTING & ENTITLEMENTS ..................................................................................... 13

5. DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................ 14

6. ELEMENTS OF A PROPOSAL ......................................................................................... 15

7. RFP SCHEDULE & PROPOSAL SUBMISSION ............................................................... 17

8. REVIEW PROCESS .......................................................................................................... 18

9. GENERAL PROVISIONS .................................................................................................. 18

APPENDIX A: RFP CHECKLIST.............................................................................................. 20

APPENDIX B: RFP LIBRARY FOR GRANT ROAD.................................................................21

Cover image: The Grant Road neighborhood in Devens. (Photo: MassDevelopment, Flylisted.)

1. PROJECT SUMMARY

The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment), the state’s

development finance agency and land bank, is seeking one or more qualified development

teams for the acquisition and development of up to ±62.7 acres of residentially zoned land along

Grant Road in Devens, Massachusetts. Devens is a 4,400-acre, master-planned, mixed-use

community approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston on Route 2, with easy access to I-495

and commuter rail service. This business-friendly community offers one-stop expedited

permitting and is home to more than 7,600 employees across nearly 100 businesses.

MassDevelopment anticipates that this opportunity will expand the growing residential

neighborhood along Grant Road. Residential uses are allowed by-right under the Devens

Zoning By-laws, with built-in flexibility for denser development under the Innovative Residential

Development Regulations. Permitting in Devens is streamlined under a unified permitting

system administered by the Devens Enterprise Commission. Financing may also be available

through MassDevelopment, including loans, guarantees, and bonds.

MassDevelopment invites interested parties to submit responses to this Request for Proposals

(RFP) detailing their qualifications, proposed development plan, project financials, and other

relevant materials for consideration.

Grant Road RFP Contact:

Amanda DeGrace, Vice President, Real Estate Development

MassDevelopment

adegrace@massdevelopment.com

Figure 1: Devens from the north. Grant Road is to the right. (Photo: MassDevelopment, Flylisted.)

2. ABOUT DEVENS

Located approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston and 25 miles north of Worcester, Devens

is a regional enterprise zone managed by MassDevelopment. Since the closure of Fort Devens,

a former U.S. Army installation, in 1996, MassDevelopment has led the transformation of the

4,400-acre site into an award-winning and thriving mixed-use community that serves as a model

for military base reuse. Today, Devens, which is conveniently located off Route 2, I-190, and I-

495, is home to 256 residential units, nearly 100 businesses, and more than 7,600 employees

that contribute $7.9 billion to the Massachusetts economy.

Notable employers in Devens include Bristol Myers Squibb, Commonwealth Fusion Systems,

Little Leaf Farms, and New England Studios. Multiple businesses, such as SMC, Werfen, and

YMC America, are currently expanding, while new businesses continue to be attracted to

Devens’ large sites, convenient transportation access, and streamlined 75-day permitting.

Figure 2. Devens in proximity to Boston and Worcester. (Image: MassDevelopment.)

Housing Context

In addition to its high-quality job opportunities, Devens is also a desirable place to live and play,

with walkable residential neighborhoods and ample open space. Currently, there are 256

housing units in Devens with another 84 permitted and 62 planned. Most of the existing units

are single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes; 58 are age-restricted units in a single

complex. A 46-unit multifamily rental building is currently permitted and anticipated to

commence construction in the first half of 2026, while 12 detached townhomes are under

construction and expected to be occupied by summer 2026. MassDevelopment and the Healey-

Driscoll Administration have made it a priority to increase housing in Devens. According to the

Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, 6,300 new housing units are needed in

the next decade to meet demand in the 22-town Montachusett region, which includes Devens.

In the past decade, the median single-family home price in the region has more than doubled,

while only 1.1% of units are currently for sale or rent, creating intense demand for housing.

Figure 3. Devens from the north. The Nashua River and Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge are in the foreground, uphill from which are

the development parcels of this RFP. (Photo: MassDevelopment, Flylisted.)

Devens includes portions of the Towns of Ayer, Harvard, and Shirley. Since 2012, Devens has

contracted with Harvard Public Schools, a highly regarded public school system, to educate

students residing in Devens. In the 2023-2024 academic year, there were 86 full-time students

from Devens attending the Hildreth Elementary and Bromfield (High) Schools in Harvard. In

addition, the Francis W. Parker Charter School and Applewild School are both conveniently

located in Devens.

Devens is well known for its large, meticulously maintained athletic fields that host hundreds of

field games and events each year. Nearly 70 acres of fields draw thousands of athletes and

spectators each year for lacrosse, soccer, and more, while many also enjoy a round of golf at

Red Tail Golf Club. Approximately one-third of Devens (1,400 acres) is permanently protected

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.