The Boston-based development firm selected to construct a $200-million crime lab for the Massachusetts State Police in Marlborough is now planning additional development on the parcel: up to 400 residential units.
Greatland Realty Partners has proposed a large expansion of The Campus at Marlborough office park. The developer plans to construct two 150-unit apartment buildings and townhouses containing 100 units. Plans call for the eventual construction of 200,000 square feet of office and/or laboratory space and a four-story garage.
The project will be Greatland’s first residential project, said Teri MacEachern, principal of development at the firm. Up until now, Greatland has been focused on commercial developments, mainly laboratory space.
“Right now, we are looking at residential on a fair amount of land we own across the portfolio,” MacEachern said. “The existing campus is 530,000 square feet and is home to some really incredible tenants. So we have a great existing base there.”
Greatland’s proposal for the 121-acre property is the latest evolution of the site, which was originally home to 3Com Corp.’s headquarters. The site went through a few ownership changes between 2001 and 2020, when it was acquired by Greatland for $62.7 million, according to City of Marlborough property records. The site is the headquarters of public companies BJ’s Wholesale Club and health technology firm Hologic.
The proposed residential units will be a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses. Documents submitted to the Marlborough City Council by Greatland show an estimated annual gross tax revenue of $2.18 million, with an annual net positive impact of $1.65 million for the City.
News of the development was first reported by the Community Advocate.
With the crime lab moving forward, MacEachern said it was the appropriate time to consider adding residential uses to the campus.
“There’s obviously a statewide need for housing and a mix of housing types,” MacEachern said. “In a campus like this that’s already close to highways, and where there was a master plan for this type of density, the infrastructure and utilities already exist. It’s less disruptive than other potential residential development sites in Marlborough.”
The project would require Marlborough to adjust zoning requirements to allow 400 residential units, compared to the 100 units currently allowed in the City’s Results Way Mixed Use Overlay District.
MacEachern expects the project to happen in phases. Assuming the zoning change is approved, the first apartments should be ready for occupancy in the summer of 2028. Townhouses would come online the following summer, with a goal of reaching stabilized occupancy by 2031. The remaining lab/office space would be built out by 2032.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
