The future use of state-controlled land on the grounds of a long-closed hospital in Mattapan was the focus of a discussion at a public meeting of the Boston State Hospital Community Advisory Committee (CAC) held on July 17. The issue involved MassBiologics – an agency run by the University of Massachusetts’s Chan Medical School – and whether or not it will move ahead with plans to expand its existing campus on Walk Hill Street.
The question has been on the front burner for the CAC for the past year but has taken on more of a priority as state Rep. Russell Holmes and the state’s Department of Capital Assets Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) are now discussing the withdrawal of four acres of undeveloped land allotted for MassBiologics and putting them out to bid by a new tenant or developer.
The acres were designated to MassBiologics in 2022 for a planned $150 million manufacturing facility.
“The question we are discussing at the CAC is should we still give over the land to [MassBiologics] and I think the answer to that should be ‘no’ and they should probably put the land back out to bid,” said Holmes, who represents the area and is a CAC member.
“We need them back at the table and we need an answer from them,” he added.
“They had been such a positive contributor for so long and they are very missed. When you have done so many positive things for the neighborhood for a long time and then they disappear, and that’s a concern.”
Said Heidi Green of DCAMM: “It could be that potentially we go out with an RFP [for the four acres]. We’re still analyzing and working with our internal team to come up with a strategy.”
The matter was introduced at the meeting by CAC member Carmen Kaechler, who wanted to know DCAMM’s position on “the current situation with MassBiologics.”
No one from MassBiologics was at the meeting, and the company did not have anyone available for an interview with The Reporter, but a spokesperson confirmed that “MassBiologics continues to operate on a reduced scale.”
Holmes said he believes there are fewer than 50 employees on the site and that one of the two buildings on the campus is no longer in use. When the facility opened in 2005, the work force numbered some 200 employees. However, in 2023, when the industry began to struggle systemwide, MassBiologics Mattapan laid off several workers. That same year, the company reported to the CAC that it was down to 128 staffers.
Holmes and others now are looking for answers about the future of the site. He said that he had taken the matter to University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan, and hadn’t gotten any answers there.
Sources at the CAC note one of the biggest problems with the Mattapan facility is that it specialized in producing vials of the Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
However, an additive to prevent chickenpox (varicella) has in recent years been preferable – the MMRV vaccine – and that has reduced the demand for the product made at the Mattapan facility.
Holmes said he was told the facility was producing up to 10 million vials a month at its height, but that had whittled down to one million.
Meanwhile, as the biotechnology sector in Greater Boston continues to contract, and new lab space continues to roll out, the older space in Mattapan isn’t as attractive to partner agencies.
“It makes that building that is vacant less attractive and a building sitting idle concerns me,” said Holmes. “I want that building to become something, maybe they can find a partner and hire again in my neighborhood. I’m rooting for them and not against them.”
The four-acre parcel has frontage on Harvard Street, and is adjacent to other developments on the State Hospital property, which would allow it to be developed by another entity if DCAMM were to re-issue an RFP.
State Hospital CAC Notebook
•Two candidates for CAC positions – Agatha Summons-McGuire and Zhanea Nicholson – were approved unanimously during the meeting. A third new member, Lincoln Larmond, joined last month. Summons-McGuire said she is excited to serve and help the community, and with a background in human resources will be looking closely at hiring practices and contracts. Nicholson is the director of the youth development non-profit CHAMPS.
•The Olmsted Green project is near total completion, with all 20 buildings completed, 40 of the 80 units sold, and 38 of the other 40 under agreement.
“Overall things are progressing, homeowners are in and we’re looking to schedule a homeowner meeting soon,” said Marie Morisset, of New Boston, the developer.
•The Olmsted Village project continues to do its due diligence in wrapping up a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with the state. Zoe Weinrobe, of 2Life Communities, said they have everything “queued up to have all the approvals in place for a September closing date on the 10-acre parcel.” The plan is to build three buildings with a variety of housing types.
•There will be no August meeting of the State Hospital CAC. They will resume meetings in September.
