Carriage Grove, Belchertown
Carriage Grove is a new neighborhood in Belchertown, master-planned for up to 581,000 square feet of mixed-use development.
- 15 acres of industrial / commercial land, with flexible lot sizes.
- Historic building renovation and adaptive reuse opportunity.
- Christopher Heights, an 83-unit assisted living facility.
- Belchertown Day School, an early childhood education center.
- 7.5 acres available for medical or office use along Route 202.
- Within 10 miles of the UMass Amherst campus and more than 28,000 students.
Background
Following the Belchertown State School closure in 1992, the Belchertown Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (BEDIC) purchased the Carriage Grove site from the state. The main campus of the property contained almost 400,000 square feet of abandoned buildings and utility tunnels with significant environmental issues that required abatement and demolition.
In late 2012, MassDevelopment joined the town of Belchertown and the BEDIC to act as the BEDIC’s agent and to help to create a development vision and pre-permitted master plan for the site. The plan addresses regional housing demand as part of a larger mixed-use development, including medical, retail, restaurant, industrial and certain residential uses, and aims to retain community character while providing employment and growth opportunities.
Progress to Date
The project has received a Certificate for the Final Environmental Impact Report through the MEPA state permitting process, and BEDIC and MassDevelopment have successfully leveraged state funds to secure multiple U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Cleanup awards. As of late 2020, approximately 325,000 square feet of vacant buildings had been abated and demolished.
In October 2017, the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program awarded MassDevelopment $3 million for the construction of Carriage Drive. This 2,000-linear-foot road, along with associated utilities and amenities, opened up the entire site for housing and commercial/industrial uses. The street was completed in 2019.
In June 2018, Christopher Heights of Belchertown opened its 83-unit, mixed-income assisted living facility, creating 40 permanent jobs and supporting 65 construction jobs. The town invested $1.25 million to construct the infrastructure necessary to support the facility and unlock broader development opportunities across the site. This work, combined with the construction of Carriage Drive, enabled the development of the 2,600-square-foot Belchertown Day School, which opened in September 2020.
In 2020, MassDevelopment and BEDIC secured funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and the state’s Site Readiness Program to construct road and utility infrastructure for a 15-acre industrial area. The project was completed in 2023.
In 2025, MassDevelopment and BEDIC completed the installation of a pressure-reducing valve, as well as an electrical vault and service, and carried out the abatement and demolition of the power plant.
Ongoing and Future Projects
Two properties, 30 State Street (7.5 acres) and Industrial Road (15 acres), are currently available for sale for commercial and industrial development.
For more information:
Tim Gilbert, Real Estate Development Project Manager
Phone: 857-289-9765