ZOM Living’s 37 Powers Road: Largest MBTA Communities Project Clears Path to Construction

ZOM Living’s 530-unit development at 37 Powers Road has been approved through Westford Planning Board review, marking the largest project filed under Massachusetts’ MBTA Communities law. The $225 million development, designed by CUBE 3 with H+O Structural Engineering, will transform a 35-acre industrial site into a pedestrian-friendly residential neighborhood with central green spaces and community-oriented design.

Responding to the Regional Housing Crisis with Scale

ZOM Living and CUBE 3 embraced Westford’s ambitious MBTA Communities zoning to deliver real housing capacity and address regional demand.

The master plan proposes 530 rental units, including 10% affordable at 80% AMI, across five, five-story residential buildings. The project is the largest to advance under Westford’s new MBTA Communities zoning, which created capacity for approximately 4,873 units—more than five times the state minimum. By leveraging this framework, ZOM Living and CUBE 3 demonstrate how regional-scale housing solutions can succeed in suburban settings.

The development will be built in two phases: Phase 1 with approximately 330 units, followed by Phase 2 with about 200 units, enabling the project to deliver new housing supply while managing construction sequencing and infrastructure investment efficiently.

ZOM Living, a Dallas-based developer with more than 20,000 units delivered and 5,400 under construction, is expanding and bringing institutional-grade execution to Greater Boston.

Design Strategy: Creating a Neighborhood, Not Just Density

CUBE 3 ,with offices in North Andover, Boston and beyond, centered the design on livability and neighborhood character rather than pure unit count.

“We’ve organized buildings and amenities to activate a central green space and create a true neighborhood square,” said CUBE 3 Partner Brian O’Connor during Planning Board presentations.

The site plan converts a 35-acre industrial property once used for earth materials operations into a connected, walkable community, concentrating development on 19 acres of previously disturbed land.

Key planning moves include:

• Environmental Stewardship: A 100-foot wetland buffer preserves sensitive areas, and Phase I and II environmental assessments found no remediation needed after 70 years of industrial use — a rare outcome for a site of this history.
• Human-Scale Design: Five, 5-story buildings distribute density evenly across the site, integrating six parking garages with roughly 800 spaces, two clubhouses, and shared amenity areas organized around a landscaped central green.
• Pedestrian Connectivity: Interconnected walkways and a wellness loop link buildings, amenities, and open spaces, encouraging walkability and active recreation.

Market Context and Economic Impact

The $225 million investment will create hundreds of construction jobs and long-term residential spending, strengthening Westford’s local economy.

Urban planner Jonathan Berk, founder of Re:Main, noted that towns embracing MBTA Communities zoning are capturing most of the Commonwealth’s new housing investment:

“The towns seeing new housing proposals are those fulfilling both the letter and the spirit of the MBTA Communities law,” Berk said. “They recognized this as an opportunity to address not only the state’s housing needs but their own.”

As zoning reforms reshape how Massachusetts builds, 37 Powers Road in Westford, MA demonstrates what’s possible when zoning ambition meets development expertise.

A Model for Intentional Growth

With approvals in place, 37 Powers Road represents more than a large-scale housing project — it’s a model for how suburban communities can deliver meaningful housing at scale. By pairing thoughtful design with early collaboration, the team has set the stage for one of Massachusetts’ most significant MBTA Communities developments to move from vision to reality.

Large-scale multifamily and mixed-use projects succeed when budgets and risk are controlled. With cost-driven design, H+O aligns structural decisions with project goals for a more predictable delivery and a protected pro forma. Contact H+O to capture measurable savings on your next project today.