You’ve probably seen the name pop up if you follow New England real estate or live anywhere near the MetroWest area. David Sweetser. To some in Wellesley, MA, he was just a neighbor—the guy with the booming Boston accent who lived on a quiet street and coached local kids. But in the world of high-stakes commercial development, he was a "titan" with a reputation that was, honestly, pretty complicated depending on which side of the state line you stood on.
David Sweetser passed away unexpectedly at his home in Wellesley on July 19, 2025, at the age of 70. It was a shocker. He was still working 12-hour days in a suit and tie, chasing down deals for his company, High Rock Development.
Most people knew him for one specific, massive headache: The "Superman Building" in Providence. It’s that iconic, 26-story Art Deco skyscraper that looks like it belongs in a comic book. Sweetser bought it back in 2008 for about $33 million, just before the world fell apart in the Great Recession. It's been vacant since 2013.
The Wellesley Roots and the "Superman" Saga
Living in Wellesley, MA, Sweetser had a life that felt a world away from the grit of urban redevelopment. He was a Bowdoin football player (#75, if you’re keeping track) and a guy who stayed incredibly loyal to his roots. He moved to Wellesley with his wife, Jayne, and raised two daughters there.
But while he was a "pillar of the community" at home, his business dealings in Rhode Island were a lightning rod for controversy.
Why the Superman Building became a stalemate
Basically, Sweetser was stuck. He had this massive, historic building at 111 Westminster St. and no tenant. For years, he went back and forth with the city and state, asking for subsidies.
📖 Related: How Much Does a Dispensary Worker Make (Actually) in 2026
- The 2022 Deal: A plan emerged to turn the tower into 285-300 apartments.
- The Price Tag: Around $220 million to $223 million.
- The Subsidy: Nearly $100 million in public money (federal, state, and local).
Critics weren't happy. They called it "urban decay blackmail." Honestly, the building was falling apart—smelling like urine, covered in graffiti, and leaking—and Sweetser kept saying he couldn't fix it without more taxpayer help. Right before he died, he was actually back at the table asking for more money to cover rising construction costs.
Beyond the Boardroom: The "King of the Beach"
It’s easy to get lost in the business drama, but David Sweetser had a whole other life in Kennebunk, Maine. If Wellesley was where he worked, Kennebunk was where he breathed. People there literally called him the "King of the Beach."
He’d sit on his front deck in a rocking chair, waving at everyone who walked by. He wasn't some reclusive millionaire; he was the guy who stayed involved with the Kennebunk Beach Improvement Association (KBIA) for over a decade. He was also a big supporter of the Tommy McNamara Charitable Foundation.
📖 Related: How Much Does a Wind Farm Cost? What Most People Get Wrong
It’s a weird contrast. In Providence, he was the developer being grilled by the press. In Maine and Wellesley, he was "Papa" to his three (soon to be four) grandkids.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Career
People think he just sat on that one building in Providence, but he had a long history in commercial real estate before that. He was actually longtime friends with the family that owns Market Basket. He helped build facilities for the grocery chain across New England.
He wasn't just a "one-building" guy, even though that's how the history books might remember him. He had an MBA from Suffolk and a background from Babson, which is basically the holy grail for entrepreneurs in Massachusetts.
The Medical Mix-up
One quick thing to clear up: if you Google "David Sweetser Wellesley MA," you might find another David Sweetser who is a high-level doctor at Mass General. Different guy. That David Sweetser is an MD/PhD specializing in genetics. Our David Sweetser was the real estate developer with the booming voice and the suit-and-tie work ethic.
👉 See also: Trump Tariffs: What Really Happened With the Iran Trade Threat
What Happens Now?
With Sweetser’s passing, the future of the Superman Building—and his other holdings—is totally up in the air. His company, High Rock Development, hasn't laid out a clear succession plan for the Providence project. Some local leaders, like former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr., have suggested his death might actually speed things up if the family decides to sell the property to a group of local investors.
But for the family in Wellesley and Norwell, the loss is much more personal than a real estate deal. They’re mourning a guy who loved life, worked hard, and "loved hardest."
If you’re looking to understand the legacy of David Sweetser, look at these specific areas:
- The Industrial National Bank Building (Superman Building): Watch the 2026 Rhode Island budget sessions. The state just approved tax changes that could provide another $4.6 million in credits. Whether his estate moves forward with this is the big question.
- Community Impact: Look at the KBIA in Kennebunk or local Wellesley charities. His philanthropic footprint was massive and often quiet.
- Estate Sales: Keep an eye on commercial listings in the MetroWest area. High Rock Development’s portfolio might see some shifting as the estate is settled.
The reality of David Sweetser is that he was a man of two worlds: the high-pressure, often-criticized world of urban development, and the deeply rooted, charitable world of a Wellesley family man. Both versions were real.
Actionable Next Steps
- Monitor the Providence Commerce Corporation: If you are invested in New England real estate trends, watch for the next application regarding 111 Westminster St. The "last piece of the puzzle" for that building's redevelopment is still sitting on the table.
- Verify the correct "David Sweetser": If you are researching medical genetics or pediatric oncology, ensure you are looking at the MGH-affiliated Dr. David Sweetser, not the developer from Wellesley.
- Support Local Heritage: If the Superman Building's history interests you, look into the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s work on "Endangered Historic Places," where this building has been featured.