The city of Boston has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a key piece of land on Cummins Highway in Mattapan, just as the corridor is set for a $32 million infrastructure transformation, the first of its kind since the 1950s.

The site includes two city-owned vacant lots at the corner of Cummins and Regis Road next to the recently developed Cote Village housing development and steps away from the Blue Hill Avenue MBTA station on the Fairmount Line.

Just two blocks from Mattapan Square, the two parcels include a 10,366-square-foot lot and a 6,250-square-foot lot. Bids from interested developers are due on May 20. The property comes under the umbrella of PLAN: Mattapan zoning and priorities.
In previous public visioning meetings for the site, housing for middle-income residents was stressed as a need in the community, as well as first-floor activation in a building that could be up to four stories tall.

“The community has conveyed that a mixed-use development would be preferred,” reads the RFP. “The community has expressed that there is a need for housing for the missing middle, 80-120% AMI…either rental or affordable homeownership for moderate-income households, but affordable homeownership is the preferred residential use.”

In reaction to the request, Acting Director of Neighborhood Development for the Office of Housing Christine O’Keefe said, “We are excited about this transformative opportunity for the Mattapan neighborhood. The RFP to develop this land is not just about constructing buildings; it’s about building homes and fostering a sense of belonging,”

“Through an inclusive community engagement process, we have designed this opportunity to cater to moderate-income households and emphasize the importance of affordable housing. This approach ensures that our neighborhood remains diverse, vibrant, and resilient for generations to come.”

The first-floor space could be a welcome center for the community and refugees, arts space, small business space, workforce development programs, a youth center, or a community center.

The appraised value listed by the city for both lots was $700,000. A possible construction timeline was pinpointed to start in the winter of 2025 and the development completed and leased up by spring 2027.