Greystar has broken ground on a 390-unit modular apartment development at 437 Whittenton St. in Taunton, Massachusetts, marking the company's first offsite construction project in the state and the largest modular residential development ever undertaken in the Commonwealth. The $150 million redevelopment of the long-vacant Whittenton Mills brownfield site will be delivered through Greystar's wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary, Modern Living Solutions (MLS), with completion targeted for 2027.
Background
No firm has committed to modular construction as aggressively as Greystar, the largest apartment manager and developer in the United States. The company's offsite strategy draws on international experience: Greystar's modular leadership oversaw its first modular projects in the U.K. between 2015 and 2018, including the two tallest modular residential structures in the world-38 and 44 stories-at the 10 Degrees development in London. In April 2023, Greystar launched its flagship manufacturing facility for MLS, aiming to streamline development by bringing design, construction, and modular manufacturing under one roof.
Greystar broke ground in August 2023 on its first U.S. modular housing project, Ltd. Spring Run, located northwest of Pittsburgh in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, built entirely from modules fabricated at the MLS factory in Knox, Pennsylvania. The Taunton project represents a geographic extension of that model, with modules transported from the same Knox facility-currently the only MLS production site in operation.
The project also benefits from a shifting regulatory landscape in Massachusetts. The legal foundation for housing production changed significantly with the Affordable Homes Act, signed by Governor Healey on August 6, 2024. State law also requires MBTA communities to maintain at least one zoning district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right. Starting July 1, 2025, all building permit applications in Massachusetts must adhere to the 10th Edition of the State Building Code, based on the 2021 International Codes.
Project Details
Demolition of the deteriorated mill buildings began in 2024 to clear the way for redevelopment. The plan calls for 390 modular apartment units across ten buildings, with a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units aimed at middle-income residents. Amenities include a 3,500-square-foot clubhouse, swimming pool, playground, a 0.6-mile walking and biking trail, and 1.5 acres of open space, along with 10,000 square feet of retail space.
To offset environmental remediation costs on the contaminated former industrial site, the Taunton City Council approved a $16.29 million Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) agreement. In return, the city expects to generate over $19 million in property taxes and additional revenue from permit fees and retail growth over the next two decades.
Ryan Souls, managing director of development at Greystar, stated that "we look forward to continuing our work alongside the Taunton community to bring essential housing stock to the area," adding that the Whittenton Mills project "will be our first modular construction project in Massachusetts," delivered through the MLS integrated platform.
MLS is currently producing nearly 12 apartments per week at the Knox factory, with leadership stating that capacity could double. Greystar also claims MLS-produced units generate 80 percent less waste than conventional construction, while projects can be completed up to 50 percent faster-sidestepping challenges such as unpredictable weather, labor shortages, and on-site safety risks.
Outlook
The Taunton project tests the geographic reach of a supply chain anchored to a single Mid-Atlantic factory. Greystar has stated its intention to refine the production process and design methodologies at its flagship facility before expanding to a second factory, "with the ultimate goal of having production capacity to reach the majority of the US population." However, modular construction faces persistent challenges, including varied building codes and a shortage of local factories that have hindered widespread adoption. Industry analysts note that updating zoning, building codes, and approval processes to fully accommodate modular construction could help Massachusetts accelerate housing production-a dynamic that will be closely watched as the Taunton project moves through construction and into lease-up by 2027.
