WESTFORD CENTER — The project to turn an iconic Westford hotel into a new apartment complex is now one step closer.
State officials recently announced that $3 million in Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative funding was awarded by the Healey-Driscoll administration to redevelop the Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center at 219 Littleton Road into 300 new rental homes.
The announcement came during a ceremony held at the Roudenbush Community Center on Aug. 26, which was attended by Sen. John Cronin, Rep. Jim Arciero, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Housing Secretary Juana Matias.
“I am very proud of this historic state investment to build housing in Westford,” Cronin said in a statement to The Westford Villager. “The redevelopment of the former Regency will transform this property into much needed housing for working families and help Westford continue to flourish.”
Westford was one of five cities and towns that were included in the funding initiative, where a total of $15.3 million will go towards converting commercial properties in Westford, Worcester, Springfield, Dedham and Boston into 856 new homes. The Regency project is also the largest in the initiative in terms of number of homes.
The $3 million funding will go to Redgate, the development firm who is spearheading the redevelopment of the Regency. They will demolish the hotel building and construct the 300 units in two four-story buildings, including 270 market-rate homes. Beyond the new units, the redevelopment project will create a range of resident amenities with connections to nearby retail, bus stops and trails, while preserving the historic Drew House at the site’s entrance as a community-oriented amenity space.
In addition to the $3 million awarded to the redevelopment of the Regency, the Menkiti Group received $2.33 million to rehabilitate Worcester’s historic former Shack’s Clothes building into 48 rental homes and three commercial condominiums. Another $3 million was awarded to McCaffery Interests Inc. to convert four historic buildings in downtown Springfield into 99 rental homes alongside ground-floor retail space. In Dedham, another $3 million will go to Nordblom Development Company Inc., who will demolish two obsolete commercial buildings to construct 154 units at Vantage Apartments near the Dedham Corporate Center MBTA station. Finally, Synergy in Boston received $4 million to adaptively reuse a historic Financial District office building into 255 rental homes and 12,000 square feet of retail space.
“Massachusetts has buildings sitting empty and communities that need more homes,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These awards will put underused properties back to work, create 856 new apartments and help bring more residents, customers and energy to downtowns and commercial districts across the state. By making smart use of the spaces we already have, we can build more housing, strengthen local economies and lower costs.”
Opened in 1983, the Westford Regency was built on land that was once a pre-revolutionary working farm up until Interstate 495 was developed, according to the hotel’s website, which states that “the Westford Regency Inn and Conference Center encompasses classic New England charm along with today’s modern day amenities.”
The framework paving the way for the redevelopment of the Regency was established in 2024, when Westford residents approved the MBTA Communities Multi-Family Housing Overlay District Zoning Bylaws during Annual Town Meeting on April 27, 2024 with 402 votes to 88.
One year later, the Westford Planning Board advanced and approved the initial concept review for the property during their Oct. 6, 2025 meeting, which allowed for a subsequent site plan review.
Later that month, on Oct. 16, 2025, the Regency’s parent company Empire Hospitality LLC filed a Massachusetts Workers Adjustment Retraining Notice letter with the Massachusetts Department of Career Services, which stated that the hotel will close and the sale to Redgate will be finalized on Dec. 18, 2025. All remaining workers were laid off the following day.
During the May 21, 2026 Westford Select Board meeting, representatives from Redgate requested a letter of support for a state Underutilized Properties Program grant from the Board, stating that rehabilitation costs for the historic Drew House were estimated to be around $1.4 million, with the grant application seeking up to $1 million in funding.
In the following months leading up to the finalization of the state tax credit funding, the Planning Board completed an extensive review of the site, finalizing an approval of the redevelopment.
The redevelopment project is expected to officially break ground and begin construction next month.
“Commercial conversions can solve two challenges at once — they create homes where people want to live and help communities breathe new life into properties that have been vacant or obsolete,” Lt. Gov. Driscoll said. “As a former mayor, I know how important it is to have active buildings and more residents supporting small businesses in our downtowns. These projects will help communities turn long-standing opportunities into lasting growth.”
