Abandoned industrial site in Chelsea will be converted to open space, affordable housing

A coalition of non-profit organizations will purchase an abandoned industrial site on Chelsea Creek, and plans to develop the area into conservation land, community space and up to 225 units of affordable housing.

The state Superior Court approved the approximately $8 million sale to Mass Audubon, GreenRoots and The Neighborhood Developers. The sale of the more than 17-acre parcel is expected to close in coming weeks, according to GreenRoots executive director Roseann Bongiovanni.

"This is a once in a generation opportunity," said Bongiovanni. "Where else do you get 17 acres on the waterfront that could really provide significant benefits for the community?"

The land is the former site of the Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Company and sits at the confluence of Chelsea and Mill Creeks; various industries operated there from the mid-1880s through the 1960s. A handful of abandoned buildings and overgrown fields remain, and the site has been fenced off from the public for almost two decades.

The groups envision acres of accessible green space with walking paths and a nature center. They also hope that restored wetlands and shoreline habitats will help shield the neighborhood from flooding caused by rising seas and more frequent and stronger storms linked to climate change.

Mass Audubon will spend several months evaluating and testing the site before remediation and construction can begin. Bongiovanni said planning for the site will involve extensive community input, and the full project will likely take at least five years to complete.

“We have the expertise and commitment to turn this dream into reality,” said David O’Neill, president and CEO of Mass Audubon, in a statement. “The opportunity to create an accessible oasis of open space while also bolstering climate resilience is fully aligned with our mission, and we look forward to partnering with community
members.”