Gillette Moves Forward with Plans to Transform South Boston Campus

Master Plan for 31-Acre Site to Expand Public Open Space, Create New Housing, Create New Resiliency Measures, and Boost Economic Development in Key Waterfront Location

Boston, MA, August 21, 2024 – P&G Gillette today launched the next phase of its plans to reshape its current South Boston manufacturing campus as the company filed a Letter of Intent for its Master Plan with the City of Boston’s Planning Department. The comprehensive redevelopment project is expected to transform an industrial site into a vibrant mixed-use community, enhancing access to the waterfront for the South Boston and Fort Point Channel neighborhoods and beyond.

The redevelopment, spanning Gillette’s 31-acre site, represents a unique opportunity to plan for the future of a pivotal site and create a sustainable, transit-oriented development. A defining feature of the proposal is its publicly accessible green and open space; with nearly 50% of the site devoted to this use, the development will unlock a site that has been inaccessible to the public for decades, welcoming the community to an inclusive, resilient waterfront park. The master plan also anticipates a transition of the site from one that currently allows for primarily commercial and industrial use to a site zoned to include residential uses. As a result, the proposed plan includes a minimum of 30% housing, as well as commercial development (lab, office and retail) and significant, public open space.

Gillette plans to maintain its Headquarters and Technical Innovation Center in South Boston, hosting commercial, engineering and R&D functions in an area known for its strong innovation ecosystem. The company plans to transition South Boston manufacturing operations to a 150-acre campus it already operates in Andover, building a new, cutting-edge manufacturing center at the site. The operational transformation at both sites will bring the single most significant investment P&G has ever made in Massachusetts – including its single largest investment in Boston.

“This is an important moment for our business and for Boston. Redeveloping our 31-acre South Boston site will create exciting new possibilities for the continued evolution of the city,” said Kara Buckley, Vice President of Community Affairs at Gillette. “Our early conversations with the community have been helpful in guiding us; we hope to develop a project that will address some of Boston’s most critical needs – from resiliency and open space to housing and economic opportunity – reflecting both citywide priorities and the interests of the South Boston community.”

In addition to public open space, sustainable building design and access to transit, the project will address the need for long-term climate resiliency. The open space and resiliency design reflect the site’s position as a gateway location that can protect both the immediate Fort Point and West Broadway neighborhoods and the broader community. The precedent-setting climate-resiliency features include green infrastructure to address district stormwater concerns and promote coastal resilience, helping to protect both the project area and the neighborhoods beyond.

Gillette, a South Boston community fixture for over 120 years, is committed to working with neighbors, community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders throughout the planning and development process. In Fall 2023, the company hosted a virtual public meeting to share early concepts and hear thoughts from city residents. The company has also met with multiple community groups, non-profits and neighbors to understand their perspectives. The Gillette team expects to host both a site tour and multiple topic-specific meetings to share some planning concepts and to solicit feedback. Meetings will begin in September and will be posted on both the city’s planning website and on the project website: GilletteBostonUpdate.com.

“It is important to us that Gillette serves as a steward for the future of the place we have called our home for more than a century,” continued Buckley. “This is a generational opportunity to strengthen Gillette’s business and establish a foundation for continued success as a proud South Boston-based company, while also providing significant new benefits to our neighborhood, the surrounding community, our city, and our state. We look forward to collaborating with our neighbors, community groups and elected officials in this effort.”