Masonicare, one of Connecticut’s oldest and largest organizations dedicated to seniors and health care, launched its new retirement community, Masonicare at Mystic, on May 29 with a ceremonial groundbreaking celebration. The 18-acre site in the town of Stonington’s historic (and charming) borough of Mystic abuts 45 acres of open space recently acquired by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.
Masonicare at Mystic will have 179 upscale rental units—81 independent living, 50 assisted living, and 48 dedicated to memory support. The community will offer one- and two-bedroom apartments and a few studios; amenities will include a bistro, several dining rooms, a pool, fitness center, shops, and walking trails. Construction costs for the project are estimated at $31 million.
The town of Stonington has welcomed Masonicare with open arms, as the new facility will provide about 150 full- and part-time local jobs. And even though it is a not-for-profit organization and exempt from local property taxes, Masonicare has voluntarily agreed to make yearly payments to the town that equal the municipal portion of the tax bill.
Masonicare has been serving Connecticut residents since 1895, when it opened The Masonic Home (a residence for elderly individuals and orphans with a Masonic connection) on an 88-acre homestead in Wallingford. Today, Masonicare is the largest provider of senior services in the state. The organization currently operates two senior living campuses in Connecticut—Masonicare Health Center in Wallingford and Masonicare at Newtown—as well as a statewide home-care and hospice agency that operates out of seven regional offices and touches 3,000 patients each month. Once Masonicare at Mystic opens, the home-care agency will relocate its headquarters to Mystic.
Bessolo Design Group of St. Petersburg, Florida, designed Masonicare at Mystic, Klewin Construction of Stonington is the construction manager, and BROM Builders, Inc. of nearby Norwich is co-developer. Masonicare will manage the community upon completion in fall 2015.
