Mass. lawmakers hear support for bill to transfer DCAM parcel in Brockton to Catholic Charities

State Representative Michelle DuBois, speaking for the Brockton delegation, told the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight that she supports House Bill H.3324, “an act to empower DCAM to release property in the city of Brockton,” and asked the committee to consider several technical amendments.

The bill would enable the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to transfer state-owned parcels on Crescent Street (the former Christos site) so Catholic Charities can build a mixed-use project combining community services and workforce housing. DuBois said one parcel proposed for transfer measures about 2.8 acres; the larger area under DCAM control totals about 6.8 acres.

Why it matters: committee members and local officials said the proposal could preserve local social services while adding housing and property tax revenue. Supporters described the plan as a way to keep Catholic Charities’ programs in Brockton, expand early education and workforce-training space, and add approximately 30 housing units aligned with local affordability goals.

Key details from testimony: DuBois said DCAM and local lawmakers met with agency staff the morning of the hearing and expect DCAM to draft amendments. She said the bill as filed contemplates transferring 2.8 acres to Catholic Charities for a “nominal fee” and placing the remaining roughly 3.2 acres into the municipal sale partnership program so the city can solicit redevelopment proposals; revenue from that sale would be directed to Massasoit Community College. DuBois estimated the Catholic Charities-led project at roughly $40,000,000.

Larry Mays, senior vice president for government and community relations at Catholic Charities, described the agency’s services and said the proposed building would include early-education classrooms and community program space on lower floors and affordable workforce housing on upper floors. Chris Cooney, president and CEO of the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, said a UMass Donahue Institute needs assessment and a regional site-reuse study informed the proposal and supported mixed-use redevelopment.

Several committee members pressed for details. Senator Collins asked about prior state investments and the history of the parcels; DuBois traced earlier purchases, noting a 2015 purchase for roughly $1.7 million and additional demolition funded by a higher-education bond. Representative Gavin asked about which entity would pay property taxes; DuBois said PUA (the proposed development partner) would develop the housing and that details would be clarified by Catholic Charities. Representative Tyler raised concerns about ensuring the units are truly affordable; DuBois noted the bill proposes that 25 percent of units be affordable at or below 80 percent of area median income (AMI) and 20 percent at or below 50 percent AMI, and offered to follow up with the committee for more detail.

Discussion versus decision: the committee heard testimony but did not take any vote on H.3324 during this session. DuBois said lawmakers planned to file written amendments to change specific language (for example replacing a mandatory “shall” for a turn lane with a discretionary “may”) and to add the other parcel to DCAM’s municipal-sale partnership program.

What’s next: supporters asked the committee to report the bill favorably so the city and nonprofit can proceed with drafting financing and development agreements; no formal action was recorded at the hearing.

Ending note: witnesses submitted to the committee that Catholic Charities’ programs serve thousands of Brockton residents and that the proposed reuse of the DCAM parcel would combine social services with housing production.