Plymouth County Eyes New Revenue as 32 Belmont Street Hits the Rental Market
PLYMOUTH — June 4, 2026 — The Plymouth County Commission is moving to convert its vacant property at 32 Belmont Street in Brockton into a fresh revenue stream, following the expiration of a critical deadline for public entities. Chris Heffernan confirmed that an exclusive right-to-lease contract has been executed with a Brockton-based real estate broker. This marks the end of a formal waiting period during which neither the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) nor the City of Brockton opted to claim the site, opening the door for a public commercial Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
The Full Story
The push to lease 32 Belmont Street represents the culmination of a process initiated by a commission vote on March 26, 2026. Following recent property appraisals, the county issued mandatory statutory notices to both DCAMM and the City of Brockton, offering them the first right of refusal to utilize the site. That response deadline passed on May 22, 2026, with no takers, clearing the path for the county to pursue a commercial tenant.
“The exclusive right to lease was signed by the county administrator... we’re taking concrete steps in order to lease that building... and we feel very positive about this outcome with this property and the potential revenue source it represents for the county.” [06:19] — Chris Heffernan
Heffernan reported that concrete steps are already underway, noting that marketing photographs were taken earlier in the week and the listing agreement has been officially signed. Once the broker identifies interested parties, the county will formally launch a procurement process governed by Chapter 30B regulations. This process will require prospective tenants to submit competitive proposals, which will eventually be vetted during a scheduled public hearing before the commission.
Beyond real estate, the commissioners focused heavily on federal relief compliance. Staff reported that a majority of local municipalities have successfully exhausted their allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. With a strict federal expenditure deadline of December 31, 2026, county officials are keeping a watchful eye on underperforming accounts.
In a notable display of strict oversight, administration officials highlighted a recent phone call with a local community that had left 15 cents unspent on their ledger. When town officials questioned if the county truly expected a return of the nominal change, they were told the county was “deadly” serious, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for returning any county-allocated funds back to the U.S. Treasury.
