FAQ – The Commonwealth’s Proposal for the Redevelopment of Shattuck Hospital

1. Who decided to demolish the Shattuck Hospital Building and why?

In early 2020, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced plans to demolish the Shattuck Hospital building. The hospital, which offers critically needed services, was deemed too expensive to renovate and was slated for demolition by The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).

2. Why are the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and other parks groups getting involved?

The Picnic Grove in Franklin Park is one of the most beautiful spots in all of the Emerald Necklace; however, the Shattuck Hospital has loomed above it all since its construction in 1949. 13 acres known as “Heathfield” wwe removed from Franklin Park to build the hospital, which has since fallen into disrepair. After that fateful transfer, using parkland in this way became illegal — a state law was passed to prevent this type of environmental degradation from happening again.

3. What services does the Shattuck Hospital currently provide?

The Shattuck Hospital provides inpatient and outpatient medical care to members of the public and inmates from both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Suffolk County.

4. After demolition, what happens to the people currently receiving care at the Shattuck Hospital?

When the Shattuck Hospital is demolished (planned for 2024 or later) the EOHHS plans to relocate most services to the Newton Pavilion at Boston Medical Center in the South End.

5. Were community members engaged in the public process for the Commonwealths decision?

While EOHHS did hold a public process, it was neither comprehensive nor robust. Even though Shattuck Hospital is located in a Mattapan zoning district, Mattapan residents have not been engaged in the planning process; not a single Mattapan group was included on the Community Advisory Board.

6. What are community members’ key concerns with the State’s proposal for the reuse of the Shattuck Hospital property?

The proposed Shattuck site is not an ideal location for supportive services:

• It is an isolated site without access to reliable public transportation.
• The site lacks all neighborhood amenities such as grocery stores, schools, houses of worship, places of employment.
• The Commonwealth’s current proposal requests a minimum of 75-100 units for the formerly homeless but does not include any provisions for critical “wrap-around” supportive services.
• The Commonwealth’s proposal provides no State funding for the redevelopment of the site. The proposal offers a private sector developer a 99-year lease of publicly owned land to build housing and services solely at the provider’s cost.
• The Commonwealth’s current proposal is contingent on the approval of over 30 legal waivers, which could jeopardize the plan coming to fruition, and circumvent State laws requiring a public process when disposing of public land.
• The current plan is slated for construction in 2025 or later. This timeline does not address the current critical and urgent need for supportive services throughout the Commonwealth.

7. Has the Commonwealth considered alternative options?

Despite several nearby, vacant Commonwealth-owned properties, EOHSS has not performed either an Alternative Analysis or a Feasibility Analysis as a part of their planning process.

8. Where are we in the process?

On June 21, 2023, The Commonwealth provisionally designated the Boston Medical Center team as the redevelopment partner for the Shattuck Hospital site at Morton Street. The provisional designation allows BMC to begin due diligence efforts to advance the project. BMC’s development proposal is not a final plan for implementation, and it is currently subject to explorations of feasibility and ongoing public engagement. The BMC team’s initial proposal includes two facilities with 326 treatment beds, 200 units of permanent supportive housing, 205 units of family supportive housing, 120 emergency housing beds and seven-plus acres of green and open space.

9. How can I get involved/learn more?

Please feel free to share this with others you think would be interested.  (to digitally “sign on” on behalf of an organization or individual in support for this request: https://forms.office.com/r/8YUkcFTLVh)

Please contact your local City Councilor, State Representatives and State Senators and encourage them to ask DCAMM to postpone the vote for a final RFP until community members have been properly engaged, and until an Alternative Analysis and Feasibility Analysis have been performed.

Your local State Representative and Senator can be found here:  https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Your local City Councilor can be found here: https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/who-my-boston-city-councilor