Massachusetts Town Wins Fight to Keep 12-Acre Peninsula Open to the Public

Nahant has won an eight-year legal and political battle to keep a 12-acre coastal parcel open to the public. In 2026, Massachusetts’ highest court upheld the town’s use of eminent domain to take the land from Northeastern University and preserve it as open space.

The dispute began in 2018, when Northeastern announced plans to expand its marine science operations on the small, densely built peninsula northeast of Boston. The proposal included up to 55,000 square feet of new research and teaching space on land that many residents considered one of the town’s last large open areas.

For the university, the parcel offered direct ocean access, space for laboratories and field stations, and room to expand its research presence. Northeastern already operated a marine science centre in Nahant, and supporters said the project could bring jobs, research prestige and educational opportunities.

Opponents feared more traffic, pressure on local infrastructure, the loss of open space and a precedent that could give a powerful institution too much influence over the town’s future. Public meetings drew large crowds, neighbourhood groups formed, and local officials faced competing demands from the university and residents.

Nahant ultimately used eminent domain not to build on the parcel, but to prevent construction. The town said it wanted to protect coastal access, views and habitat. The case was unusual because eminent domain is more commonly associated with highways, utilities and major infrastructure projects, rather than blocking a university expansion.