‘Transit-oriented village’ proposed for former Grafton State Hospital property

Wanted: A commercial real estate development firm with imagination to transform 8.8 acres of former Grafton State Hospital property into a transit-oriented village.

Must love historic preservation, mixed use development, affordable housing, and the slight creepiness of working on a property that once served as a mental institution.

The town recently acquired the 8.8 acres at 8 Pine St. under a sales partnership agreement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It hopes to develop a transit-oriented village that aligns with the North Grafton Transit Village Master Plan. The town adopted 40R zoning that requires a mixed-use development with a minimum of 20 units of multi-family housing per acre.

The redevelopment of the Grafton State Hospital at 8 Pine Street is a unique opportunity to create a transit village centered around the Grafton MBTA train station with opportunities for office, retail, restaurants, and high-density housing, according to a press release from Town Administrator Tim McInerney’s office.

The Grafton MBTA commuter train station is one of the last options on the Worcester/ Boston line to build a signature project reflecting the history of the Grafton State Hospital with the amenities of modern day living with access to jobs, shops, entertainment, and open space.

Interested parties may obtain more information at www.projectdog.com using project code #836011. For more information, McInerney at mcinerneyt@grafton-ma.gov or (508) 839-5335 x1180