Brookfield Properties and New England Development move forward with plans for 6,500 homes, commercial space, infrastructure improvements and open space across Weymouth, Rockland and Abington.
SOUTH WEYMOUTH, Mass. — The long-awaited transformation of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station has taken a major step forward with the completion of a $65 million land sale that clears the way for one of the largest mixed-use redevelopment projects in Massachusetts.
Washington Capital Management has sold its remaining land holdings at the former military base to a joint venture between Brookfield Properties and New England Development, advancing plans for a massive redevelopment that will bring thousands of new homes, commercial development, infrastructure improvements, and preserved open space to communities across the South Shore.
The transaction, filed last week in Norfolk and Plymouth counties, marks a significant milestone for the redevelopment of the more than 1,400-acre site spanning Weymouth, Rockland, and Abington. Previous efforts to redevelop the former naval facility faced financial and logistical challenges, but the new partnership aims to deliver the full potential of the property.
The redevelopment proposal includes approximately 6,500 housing units and nearly 2 million square feet of commercial and retail space, making it the largest residential and commercial development project currently proposed in Massachusetts.
“This is a good day for Weymouth and the entire Commonwealth,” said Weymouth Mayor Michael Molisse. “It shows the kind of results that true partnership between private investment and government at the local and state level can achieve for our citizens.”
A Historic Site Set for Transformation
The former South Weymouth Naval Air Station has played an important role in regional history for more than eight decades. Established during World War II, the site originally supported Navy blimp operations used for coastal anti-submarine patrols. It later became a major Naval Air Reserve facility supporting Navy and Marine Corps training before closing in 1997.
Since the closure, local officials, state leaders, and private developers have worked to return the property to productive use.
The redevelopment effort has received broad support from municipal and state officials, including unanimous approval from the Weymouth City Council and strong backing from Rockland and Abington town meetings.
Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano said the project represents the type of housing development needed to address the state’s affordability challenges.
“As the Commonwealth continues to navigate a housing crisis that has forced many residents to consider leaving Massachusetts, the redevelopment of the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station into 6,500 new homes represents the kind of development that the Commonwealth needs more of,” Mariano said.
Governor Maura Healey also highlighted the project’s potential to create housing, jobs, and economic opportunity.
“Lowering housing costs is my top priority, and projects like this are how we get there,” Healey said. “This redevelopment will create thousands of new homes, support good-paying jobs and transform a long-underutilized site into an engine of opportunity for the South Shore.”
Infrastructure Investment and Community Benefits
The redevelopment team, along with the Town of Weymouth and the Southfield Redevelopment Authority, has secured more than $35 million in state and local infrastructure funding for water, wastewater, and roadway improvements.
A key component of the infrastructure plan is a proposed connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water system through a 6.7-mile pipeline. The Final Environmental Impact Report for the pipeline is expected by the end of 2026, with completion projected for 2031. Officials said the pipeline could eventually provide additional regional water capacity for South Shore communities.
Infrastructure construction is expected to begin in fall 2026.
The project is also expected to generate significant new tax revenue for the host communities. Officials estimate the redevelopment will create nearly $24 million in annual net new tax revenue, including approximately $14 million for Weymouth and $5 million each for Rockland and Abington.
Preserving Open Space
While the redevelopment will introduce thousands of new residences and commercial uses, nearly two-thirds of the former base — more than 880 acres — will remain preserved as open and restricted space.
The preserved land will provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and public amenities while maintaining a connection to the site’s history and natural environment.
“We are excited to be moving forward with the Base — a project that will have significant benefits to the towns of Weymouth, Rockland and Abington, as well as the region,” said John Twohig of New England Development. “The Base redevelopment will be the largest residential and commercial project in Massachusetts.”
New England Development brings experience in mixed-use communities, retail centers, and innovation-focused developments throughout the region, while Brookfield Properties is among the world’s largest real estate owners and developers, managing hundreds of properties globally.
With the land acquisition complete and infrastructure planning underway, officials say the redevelopment represents a major opportunity to address housing needs, create jobs, and reshape a long-vacant property into a new economic and residential hub for the South Shore.
