Suffolk Downs Master Plan

Client: The HYM Investment Group, LLC

The Suffolk Downs master plan will transform the 161-acre former horse racing facility into a resilient, transit-oriented, mixed-use development, harnessing existing natural resources to introduce a vibrant coastal community. Currently an inaccessible expanse of underutilized land, the site divides two neighboring communities. The new development plan reclaims valuable space for community use with 10,000 units of housing, nearly 6 million square feet of life science, office, hotel and retail space, plus significant transit infrastructure and 40 acres of open space.

Strategic connections restore site ecology while bridging historical neighborhoods and surrounding natural assets. Two new retail squares and MBTA stations bookend a new main street, attracting local businesses and cultural amenities. Prioritizing public benefits, Suffolk Downs will commit upwards of 1,430 units to affordable housing, while a range of building typologies will accommodate a diversity of lifestyles.

A network of accessible open space ensures that public space is only steps away from any given location within the site. Restored natural landscapes are integrated with active recreation areas including multi-purpose fields, playgrounds, and protected cycle tracks.

An expression of the site’s coastal identity, this intentional public space serves a dual purpose as both an accessible community amenity and resilient design strategy during tidal and storm events. Incorporation of natural ecology and existing wetlands protects against rising sea levels. Green fingers channel water across the site through a central common. A stepped outdoor theater accommodates cultural events, while doubling as a stormwater drainage and flood protection system.