New Bedford to Sell Part of Donald Ross-Designed Golf Course for Business Park

The city plans to sell 95 acres of the Whaling City Golf Course to Charter Development for a high-tech business park project.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The city of New Bedford, Massachusetts is poised to sell 95 acres of the Whaling City Golf Course, which features some holes designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross, to Charter Development Company of Boston. The $1.85 million sale will pave the way for a new high-tech business park that is expected to create 800 to 1,000 permanent jobs and generate $2.5 million per year in property taxes at buildout.

Why it matters

The sale of part of the municipal golf course represents a significant economic development opportunity for New Bedford, which has worked for nearly a decade to prepare the site for redevelopment. The new business park is expected to attract $500 million in private investment and create hundreds of construction jobs, in addition to the permanent positions. However, the plan will also result in the golf course being reduced from 18 holes to 9 holes during initial construction, before being reconfigured back to 18 holes.

The details

Under the plan, Charter Development will develop the 95-acre site in two phases. Phase 1 will include 600,000 square feet of building space on 40 acres, along with a new road off Hathaway Road. Phase 2 will add another 500,000 square feet on the remaining land. The site presents significant development challenges due to a 100-foot difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points, requiring extensive earthwork and soil import. The city will pay for the estimated $8 million to $10 million in golf course reconfiguration work, while Charter and state grants will cover the business park roads and infrastructure.

  • The city council unanimously selected Charter Development's $1.85 million purchase proposal in February 2026.
  • Phase 1 sites are expected to be ready for development starting in 2028.
  • Phase 2 sites are expected to be available several years after Phase 1.

The players

Charter Development Co.

A Boston-based real estate development company that has successfully led comparable projects across Massachusetts, including in Carver, Everett, Lynn, and Brockton.

New Bedford Whaling City Golf Course

An 18-hole, 6,780-yard championship golf course in New Bedford, Massachusetts that was built in 1947 and features some holes designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross.

Jon Mitchell

The mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Neil Mello

The chief of staff for Mayor Jon Mitchell.

Robert Delhome

The president and CEO of Charter Companies, including Charter Development and Charter Contracting Co.

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What they’re saying

“This isn't just about a transaction. This is about a collaboration to deliver certainty of outcome a project that's been long planned and thought through by the city.”

— Robert Delhome, President and CEO, Charter Companies (usatoday.com)

“The site is not a straightforward one to develop largely due to the approximately 100-foot difference in elevation between the site's highest and lowest points. Our offer reflects the extraordinary costs of earthwork and soil import needed to bring the entire site to shovel readiness and to maximize the project's economic development outcome for the city.”

— Mason Sandell, Principal, Charter Development (usatoday.com)

What’s next

A final purchase and sale agreement between the city and Charter Development still needs to be negotiated and approved by the city council.

The takeaway

The sale of part of New Bedford's municipal golf course represents a significant economic development opportunity for the city, but it also comes at the cost of reducing the golf course from 18 holes to 9 holes during initial construction. The project highlights the challenges and tradeoffs cities face in balancing economic growth with preserving community assets like public recreational spaces.