The Massachusetts Department of Transportation recently opened up three developer proposals to magically transform a 20-acre patch of land along the Route 79 and Davol Street corridor. Unsurprisingly, officials are dangling the usual shiny carrots—promising over 1,000 homes, a mythical $1 billion in local investment, and a master plan featuring nearly 1,500 rental units, commercial space, and thousands of parking spots. Conveniently, this land sits right next to the commuter rail station that finally opened in 2025.
Let’s look at who’s actually stepping up to play:
- The Michaels Organization: A massive New Jersey-based affordable housing firm managing tens of thousands of units across the country, throwing down the highest bid at $15.2 million.
- Mark Development and Wood Partners: A tag-team of national real estate giants (one boasting a $24 billion capitalization portfolio) that submitted a $13.97 million bid.
- Tony Cordeiro: Local developer Anthony Cordeiro Properties, putting up a localized $10.34 million bid.
Of course, Mayor Paul Coogan is predictably thrilled, calling them “solid bidders,” while MassDOT—true to form—remained entirely tight-lipped and didn’t even respond to requests for information.
Before anyone starts celebrating a billion-dollar windfall, let’s inject a heavy dose of reality. These are preliminary bids tossed into a black hole of state bureaucracy. MassDOT still has to review everything, and past mega-development promises in the city rarely materialize as smoothly or as lucrative as the politicians claim. With three corporate and local entities fighting for a slice of state-controlled pavement, taxpayers are left waiting to see whether this becomes a genuine economic driver or just another expensive exercise in paperwork.
