MCI Concord Vision Plan

The MCI Concord Advisory Board released a comprehensive vision plan for the former Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) property. It outlines scenarios that include a walkable, livable neighborhood with diverse housing options. The plan, developed by Agency Landscaping + Planning, provides a roadmap for transforming the site while honoring the town's history and addressing critical needs for housing, sustainability, and community well-being.

The vision plan is the product of a community-driven process that took place throughout 2025. It was made possible by a legislative earmark championed by Senator Michael Barrett and Representatives Simon Cataldo and Carmine Gentile. This funding enabled the Advisory Board to engage the community through in-person workshops, online forums, listening sessions, interviews, and surveys.

 "We are incredibly grateful for the legislative support that made this critical visioning process possible," said Mark Howell, Select Board Chair. "This funding enabled us to engage our community and lay the groundwork for how we as a town should consider potential futures for the site.”

The process identified core principles for the property's future:

• Create a livable, walkable neighborhood with diverse housing options.
• Honor Concord’s history while embracing sustainability and climate resilience.
• Preserve natural habitats along the Assabet River and Warner’s Pond.
• Support economic vitality, mobility, and community cohesion.

These principles guided the development of three distinct site-use scenarios—a civic campus, a commercial center, and a mixed-use neighborhood—which were evaluated for financial feasibility, fiscal impact, and housing density, among other criteria.

Following the closure of MCI Concord in June 2024, the property was transferred to the state's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) for disposition. This report provides a foundation for the Town of Concord and DCAMM to begin discussions on the site's future. The Advisory Board will recommend a pragmatic path forward that draws from the three illustrative scenarios captured in the Vision Plan and is informed by the community’s input and builds on rigorous analysis of the site’s complex constraints.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contribute to the transformation of this  historic site in ways that reflect Concord’s values and needs,” said Kerry A. Lafleur, Town Manager. “Thanks to the leadership of our legislators, the support of the Commonwealth, the work of the Advisory Board and Town staff, we now have a strong foundation for the decisions and partnerships ahead.”

The full report is available for review on the Reimagine MCI Concord website at https://www.mci-concord.org/.