MassDevelopment and Westfield Redevelopment Authority Westfield, MA

Riverfront District Redevelopment Plan

The South Riverfront Area Plan gives the Westfield Redevelopment Authority (WRA) a strategic framework for evaluating redevelopment opportunities within the South Riverfront Area and advancing urban renewal plan implementation under MGL c.121B. The effort centers on reconnecting downtown Westfield to the Westfield River through coordinated urban renewal planning, public realm improvements, and targeted reinvestment strategies.

Working closely with the WRA, BSC evaluated existing physical conditions, redevelopment constraints, circulation patterns, land use opportunities, and public infrastructure needs across the study area, identifying ways to transform underutilized and fragmented properties into a cohesive mixed-use riverfront district. A key component involved providing technical assistance to the WRA on urban renewal process and area eligibility requirements under MGL c.121B, including preliminary evaluation of statutory criteria, identification of blight and underutilization conditions, and guidance on preparing an Urban Renewal Plan.

The resulting framework positions the South Riverfront Area as a catalyst for reinvestment, laying out a clear path toward future urban renewal planning, public-private redevelopment partnerships, and long-term revitalization of Westfield’s riverfront district.