The disposition of portions of the Former Industrial School for Girls, a 63-acre campus in Lancaster, by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) is authorized by Chapter 156 of the Acts of 2024.
Project Information
Planning for the redevelopment of the Former Industrial School for Girls Campus (the Campus) into a variety of housing types, including single family homes, townhomes and multi-unit structures, is currently underway. DCAMM and the Town of Lancaster are working with consultant firm Speck Dempsey to produce a development plan and the plan for rezoning the Campus to allow for housing. A small amount of retail is also being considered and may be incorporated to serve the neighborhood.
Community Engagement
Community engagement and outreach is a major component of the planning work underway. 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
As DCAMM and Speck Dempsey continue to plan engagement with the public throughout the planning process, information about future events will be made available on this page, stay tuned.
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 63 acres of land including buildings/structures and infrastructure.
- The RFK Community Alliance will remain in their current location on the campus, adjacent to the development area.
Upcoming Project Details
Housing
- Following the planning work that is currently underway, a Request for Proposals seeking a developer/development team to redevelop the site is expected to be issued early in 2026.
- This site is one of the largest in the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s State Land for Homes inventory, with more information available on the State Land for Homes page. Information on this project and many others will be updated regularly.
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.