Health care, housing planned at closed Dorchester hospital’s site – NBC Boston

Two years have passed since the Carney Hospital closed its doors in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood.

During that time, city, state and business leaders have been working on a plan to get the shuttered health care center back open, filing a letter of intent with city planners earlier this month.

"It will take about six months or so," said Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald, who represents District 3. "We'll look at the buildings, we'll look at the impacts of those buildings."

Various elements would fill the 12.8-acre site, including 500 housing units split between senior and multi-family, retail space and 350,000 square feet for health care. An emergency room would be among the top priorities.

Developer Tom O'Brien and Rev. Jeffrey Brown are leading the project, laying out a timeline of when the project could get underway.

"We think we could attract the health care system this year," said O'Brien. "If we can sign that group up this year, then we can begin the project in 2027. It typically takes about three years to build a building like this."

While the process unfolds, community advocates watch from the sidelines, hoping to see sustained momentum in the days ahead.

"There's a lot of things on the table," said Dorchester resident Lawrence Ward. "Sometimes, it's really important to embrace a new thing."