The disposition of portions of the Former Industrial School for Girls, a ~72-acre campus in Lancaster, by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) is authorized by Chapter 156 of the Acts of 2024 and Section 121 and 122 of the Affordable Homes Act. The Request For Proposals to select a developer or master developer team was posted on September 17, 2026 and is available at the link below.
Project Information
DCAMM engaged consultant firm Speck Dempsey to produce a regulating development plan for the Campus based on thoughtful site analysis and community engagement. The regulating plan guides site development and is accompanied by an illustrative plan that shares a potential development scheme with a variety of housing types, including single family homes, townhomes and multi-unit structures. Development teams which submit proposals in response to the RFP must present site plans that conform to the guidelines of the regulating plan, but may deviate from the illustrative plan shown to the right.
The redevelopment may also incorporate a small amount of retail to serve the neighborhood, dependent on rezoning and/or a future agreement between the Town and the selected developer.
Key Links
- Request for Proposals, posted September 17, 2026. To download the complete RFP materials, ask questions about the proposal, and submit proposals, you must register for an account at BidExpress. The RFP includes directions in “Submission Procedures”, and you may visit the DCAMM public page and register for an account.
- Virtual Bidder’s Conference was hosted on October 6, 2026. Find links to Bidder's Conference Recording and Bidder's Conference Presentation.
Background
- The Industrial School for Girls opened in 1856 in Lancaster and operated until its closing in 1972. The Lancaster Industrial School for Girls was a large campus that included housing, dining, farming, and functional buildings.
- The Campus was most recently used as office space for the DCAMM Surplus Properties Unit until their recent move to DCAMM’s Northborough location.
- The development opportunity consists of approximately ~72 acres of land including buildings/structures and infrastructure.
Community Engagement
Community engagement and outreach is a major component of the planning work. Please use the following links to view recordings of the public outreach events that have been held to date:
July 15, 2025 - Public Outreach Event Recording
August 11, 2025 - Public Outreach Event Recording
May 19, 2026 – Public Outreach Event Recording
Join our Contact List
DCAMM's Office of Real Estate Management encourages interested firms and organizations to fill out the Real Estate Office Contact form so we may contact you regarding future opportunities.