MERRIMAC, Mass.— A redevelopment assessment of two vacant, town-owned properties near Merrimac Square has identified opportunities to transform the sites into affordable housing, providing the Town of Merrimac with a roadmap for future development.
Horsley Witten Group, an environmental consulting firm specializing in sustainable and resilient design solutions, led the assessment in partnership with the Town of Merrimac and MassDevelopment. The work evaluated existing conditions and development potential at 2 Littles Court and 28 School Street, two properties that the Town hopes to advance together as an affordable housing project.
The assessment was supported through MassDevelopment’s Real Estate Services Technical Assistance Program, with earlier MassDevelopment funding also supporting environmental remediation work at the sites.
Merrimac plans to pursue the properties as a Local Initiative Program, or LIP, project under Chapter 40B, commonly referred to as a “Friendly 40B.” Evaluating the properties together allows the Town to account for the distinct characteristics of each site while developing a coordinated strategy for creating affordable housing.
The effort builds on Merrimac’s 2024-2029 Housing Production Plan and the work of the Town’s Affordable Housing Board of Trustees.
The two properties have different histories. Littles Court was formerly home to a carriage factory and later a brass foundry before being used as a metal plating facility. The School Street property was previously the site of Merrimac’s Senior Center.
Early planning estimates identified the potential for approximately 30 housing units at Littles Court and approximately 10 units at School Street.
As the lead consultant, Horsley Witten Group developed a Municipal Surplus Property Plan examining site conditions, infrastructure, zoning, natural resource constraints and environmental considerations. The assessment is intended to give the Town and prospective developers a clearer understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with redeveloping the properties.
Horsley Witten Group also worked with Union Studio Architecture and Community Design to develop conceptual plans and visualizations showing potential redevelopment scenarios. The concepts, together with the existing conditions assessment, are expected to help inform the Town’s future request for proposals process.
“Communities across Massachusetts are looking for ways to create more housing opportunities while working within the realities of existing sites and neighborhoods,” said Nate Kelly, president of Horsley Witten Group. “By taking a close look at these properties early in the process, Merrimac and future developers have a better understanding of what is possible, what challenges need to be addressed, and how to move forward with an affordable housing strategy that fits the community.”
MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal said the agency’s support has included both the redevelopment assessment and earlier environmental work at Littles Court.
“MassDevelopment has been pleased to partner with the Town of Merrimac to advance the redevelopment potential of these vacant sites,” Bal said. “This includes providing a Real Estate Services Technical Assistance award to fund an important assessment by Horsley Witten Group evaluating the potential of both properties to be transformed into affordable housing, as well as providing a Brownfields Redevelopment Fund award to help the Town begin the assessment and remediation of Littles Court.”
For the Town, the project represents an opportunity to address housing needs while also contributing to the revitalization of the area around Merrimac Square.
“The redevelopment of these two sites will not only play a role in beautifying our downtown area but will provide needed affordable housing in the Town of Merrimac,” said Town Select Board member Janet Bruno. “These concept plans are the first step in achieving those goals.”
The assessment does not represent final development plans, but provides a foundation for the Town’s next steps. Future development will depend on additional planning, permitting, financing and the selection of a development proposal.
By evaluating the two properties together, Merrimac is positioning the sites as part of a broader housing strategy while addressing the environmental, infrastructure and zoning considerations that could shape their eventual redevelopment.
The project is expected to move toward a future request for proposals process, giving potential developers the information needed to evaluate the sites and develop proposals for affordable housing near the town center.
