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Danvers St HospitalCOMPLETED DISPOSITION OF STATE-OWNED REAL PROPERTY
DANVERS STATE HOSPITAL

DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
In August of 2000, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting through its Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, (DCAM) issued a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of a 75 acre portion of the former Danvers State Hospital, a 500 acre campus listed on both the National and State Register of Historic Places. The property offered consists of 75 acres of land improved with historic landscapes, and buildings in the areas defined as the Highlands and Lowlands. The Highlands portion of the property, on the top of the hill, is surrounded by agricultural land and heavily wooded slopes. Across from this open land to the east is easy access to Route 1. The Lowlands parcels are surrounded by agricultural land, scattered residential development and smaller municipal and institutional buildings. Across from the campus (along Route 62) are retail and office complexes and a State Police facility. The property offered an exciting and unique opportunity to combine preservation of historically significant structures, and new construction, in an attractive campus setting distinguished by its 19th century gothic architectural style, large landscaped areas, mature trees, impressive vistas within an open character.

Danvers st hosp aerialDISPOSITON PROCESS AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS

As authorized by Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1997, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through DCAM, issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in August 2000 for the redevelopment of a 75 acre portion of the former Danvers State Hospital. Prior to issuance of the RFP, the entire campus had been the subject of an extensive redevelopment planning process that began with a reuse plan prepared by the Town of Danvers in 1983, a more recent Reuse Study in 1993 and a Reuse Implementation report completed in 1994. In November of 1999, the Town of Danvers, through Representative Town meeting approved zoning overlay district allowing for mixed-use development of this property. The Danvers State Hospital Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) worked with DCAM reviewing and commenting on the RFP, developer selection and adoption of the developer’s Master plan for this site. After extensive CAC and community input, and the completion of the state and local permitting process, the selected developer Avalon Bay closed on the property in December 2005.

Economic benefits to the state and community resulting from this sale include:

  • nearly $6 million deposited to the Commonwealth’s general fund
  • 500 units of housing (rental and condominium)
  • 100 age-restricted units (55 and older)\70 affordable units, 10 of which will be made available to mental health clients
  • $3.15 million contribution to an affordable housing trust fund to assist the Department of Mental Health (DMH) clients
  • $100,000 to a DMH job training fund
  • $1 million towards the Danvers Educational Trust Fund
  • $500,000 set aside for historic preservation in the Town of Danvers
  • $500,000 set aside for a Danvers Affordable Housing Trust Fund
  • Town of Danvers athletic field for public use
  • Over $1 million in property taxes to the Town of Danvers at full site build out