The state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) will open a new facility at 90 River Street near Lower Mills in a retail space that has been empty since a Walgreens store closed abruptly in 2022. The state-run facility will replace an existing office that is currently operating on Park Street near Fields Corner in Dorchester.

A spokesperson for Trinity Financial, which owns the Riverway Plaza building on the Dorchester-Mattapan line, told The Reporter that the 25,000 square-foot space is currently being rebuilt to accommodate a “state-of-the-art facility” where social workers can engage with families in office spaces, conference rooms, and specialized children’s play areas.

“The retail sector has been hit hard since the onset of the pandemic, and it has been increasingly challenging to attract long-term tenants,” said Stacey Pagos, director of Marketing and Leasing for Trinity Financial. “Working with the State to house critical services for our neighborhood and beyond has been a game-changer, providing our shopping center with much-needed stability and reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the community.”

DCF currently has 29 local offices spread throughout Massachusetts, including the space on Park Street.

“We recognize how crucial it is for children and families to feel comfortable and supported during their visits to our office, and the design for the new office will be warm and welcoming,” a DCF spokesperson said in a statement to the Reporter. “Additionally, the space is easily accessible by public transportation, making it convenient for families and children to visit.”

Above, a Road Test Center operated by the state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles occupies a storefront location in the Riverway Plaza. Trinity officials say the center intends to extend its lease there for another five years. Cassidy McNeeley photo

The 100,000-square-foot retail building is also home to Planet Fitness, BSW Beauty, and a new nail salon that is expected to open soon. It also houses an office of Registry of Motor Vehicles Road Test Center, which has expressed interest in extending its lease for another five years, according to Trinity’s Pagos.

Trinity Financial worked with Iconic Capital, LLC, to secure the 15-year lease of the former Walgreens space. The DCF facility is expected to open by late summer 2025.

Trinity is owned and managed by Dorchester resident Jim Keefe and his longtime business partner Patrick Lee. The company’s portfolio includes extensive holdings in Boston neighborhoods, including the Carruth and Treadmark buildings in Ashmont, the Star Market on River Street, and the Foley Senior Residences and Mattapan Heights, both located on the grounds of the former Boston Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital on River Street.