Atlantic Development wants to knock down the long-vacant office building at 1600 Crown Colony Drive in Quincy and swap it out for a cluster of age-restricted condos. The proposal calls for five 55-plus buildings geared to buyers 55 and older, turning a prominent, underused slice of the Crown Colony office park into housing. The plan landed with city planners this week and is shaping up as one of the more visible South Shore redevelopment plays this year.
The idea was first reported by the Boston Business Journal, which notes that Atlantic Development is seeking to demolish the former Harvard Pilgrim office and put up five 55-plus condominium buildings in its place. Reporter Grant Welker wrote on May 21 that the developer has already floated the concept with city officials and described the site as a largely vacant office property.
What’s planned
According to the filing, Atlantic Development is proposing five low-rise condominium buildings restricted to buyers 55 and older, replacing the single existing office structure on the parcel. Public records and building listings identify 1600 Crown Colony Drive as the former Harvard Pilgrim office, per GBIG.
Where this fits
The Quincy proposal arrives as developers across Greater Boston increasingly look to underused office space as raw material for housing projects, a trend that has picked up speed since the pandemic. Boston.com has reported that city-backed conversion programs and tax incentives are nudging more office-to-residential projects into the pipeline, making vacant office parcels a more tempting target.
Next steps
If Atlantic Development’s concept moves forward, it will need to clear the local permitting and planning process before any demolition or construction starts. The Boston Business Journal reports the company has begun early outreach to Quincy city staff and is expected to steer the proposal through the city’s approval process in the coming months.
