by John Osborn ·
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Updated July 24 at 8:45 a.m.
The Massachusetts Senate passed its version of Gov. Maura Healey's $425 million Mass Wins economic development bond bill late Thursday night, after a session that stretched on for hours. Senators declined to revive a proposal that would have bypassed Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley's control over Devens zoning decisions, and earmarked $5 million to redevelop Vicksburg Square, the boarded-up former Army barracks complex at Devens.
State Sen. John Cronin, whose Worcester and Middlesex district includes the town of Shirley, filed the amendment directing money toward Vicksburg Square, after withdrawing two other Devens-related amendments, described below.
The $5 million earmark is tied to a pledge from MassDevelopment. In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Cronin said the agency "has committed to proceed with super town meetings in Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley no later than spring 2027 to rezone the Innovation and Technology [Center] District for housing use."
"This amendment recognizes that housing in the district, and specifically Vicksburg Square, will require a public-private partnership," Cronin said. "The amendment authorizes $5 million of state investment for site development and to convert the historic Army barracks for housing. I am hopeful that the towns will approve this zoning change for Vicksburg Square so that this appropriation may be utilized."
Allyson Foley, Cronin's director of communications, confirmed the MassDevelopment commitment, and said, in an email to the Press, the funding would be used only if the towns approve the rezoning. The Press has asked MassDevelopment for comment and is awaiting a response.
Two amendments withdrawn
Cronin filed two other Devens-related amendments this week. Both were withdrawn before coming to a vote.
One would have replaced Devens' current zoning process with a single meeting run by MassDevelopment. Under the current process, Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley each hold a town meeting, and all three must agree before a major zoning change can be made. The House had already rejected that same idea, stripping it from its version of the bill earlier this month after Harvard and Ayer objected. Shirley never took a position, but leading members of the Devens residential community supported the measure. Cronin's amendment was an attempt to restore it in the Senate bill.
The other amendment would have written a 400-unit housing allowance for the Innovation and Technology Center district directly into state law. Foley told the Press that figure comes from the 2024 Mass Leads Act and the Devens Housing Working Group's final report, which recommended allowing up to 400 multifamily units in the district, including at Vicksburg Square.
In a Thursday morning interview, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, who represents Harvard and Ayer and lobbied against both amendments, said the push to change Devens' zoning process is dead for this legislative session. "MassDevelopment needs to sit down with the three towns," Eldridge said, "and I really hope that outreach happens immediately."
The Senate's bill next goes to a conference committee to be reconciled with the House version.
Note: This is a developing story. The Harvard Press will update this report as more information becomes available.