It’s official. UMass Boston has put 20 acres of land that once was the Bay Side Expo officially on the market! According to the Boston Globe, UMass is hoping the sale will help with its financial struggles. The hopes is to reinvest in campus facilities and to find a development pattern to bring jobs to Columbia Point. It is estimated that this property could accommodate 2.5 million square feet of office space, housing, and retail! It is also estimated to be worth more than $200 million! Holy Moly.
UMass is open to a full sale to a long-term lease for a joint venture. Ideally UMass would like a proposal that would include growth for the university to expand in the next few decades.
This lot of land was considered a potential spot for the Olympic Village as part of Boston 2024 and just recently Bob Kraft was hoping for a New England Revolution soccer stadium. The proposal was shutdown after lack of transparency and input from the public and local elected officials.
This property is right across the way from the new development taking over the Boston Globe site on Morrissey Blvd. in addition to the renovation of the Mary Ellen McCormack Housing Development in Southie.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.