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Amherst Eyes Rezoning of Hampshire College Campus for Housing or Business Use
The 800-acre campus of Hampshire College, the Amherst school that’s expected to shut down this fall, could be rezoned to allow for housing, community or business use, reported the Boston Business Journal. The town of Amherst aims to have a draft of the official zoning plans by January 2027, officials said.
Housing, especially for seniors and students, is a top priority for the land, with experts noting the defunct campus could yield up to 2,000 units. Commercial development could also be in the mix with new zoning changes, Jeffrey Bagg, director of planning and economic development director for Amherst, told the Business Journal.
The town’s recommendations follow an initial conclusion of a study with MassDevelopment and three outside consulting agencies this past spring.
“The potential for development on this site … would actually help address that need that’s been identified,” said Paul Bockelman, Amherst’s town manager. “We’re moving at warp speed on this zoning.”
- ◦Development
