Non-Profit Goddard Homestead purchases Saint Peter-Marian High School for Future Senior Living Development

  • Goddard Homestead Inc. has closed on 23.7 acre property at 781 Grove Street – the previous home of Saint Peter-Marian High School
  • The Grove Street development will add 158 senior living apartment residences in newly constructed 150,000 square foot, 3-story building
  • Goddard Homestead is a non-profit senior living provider that has been serving the Worcester community since 1874
  • The overall goal is to develop a new campus that will stay true to Goddard Homestead’s mission of serving moderate-income seniors of Worcester
  • The new community is slated to open in 2024

Worcester, MA:  On December 30, 2021 Goddard Homestead Inc. closed on the purchase of the 23.7 acre Saint Peter-Marian High School property located at 781 Grove Street in a transaction brokered by Kelleher & Sadowsky.  The site will be the future home of a new senior living campus that will stay true to Goddard Homestead’s mission of serving moderate-income seniors of Worcester.  Goddard Homestead is a non-profit senior living provider that has been serving the Worcester community for nearly 150 years.  Their mission is to provide housing and aging services to those who do not financially qualify for HUD housing and cannot afford more expensive senior living options (commonly referred to as the “Forgotten Middle”). The Project is designed efficiently to reduce project costs in order to offer a practical senior living alternative that will be below the average cost of other market rate communities in the area.

The proposed development includes demolition of the existing high school building for a new 3-story residential building that will contain 158 units of Supportive Independent Living (110), Assisted Living (16), and Memory Support (32).  The new building, designed with a 21st century nod to the historic three-decker architecture of Worcester, will be located in the same general location as the existing school building footprint leaving plenty of space for future community growth.  The property is located in a residential community, that has been very welcoming to the proposed project.  The development team has successfully received unanimous approvals from the City of Worcester’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission.

birds-eye view

While situated nicely in the quiet Forest Grove residential neighborhood of Worcester, the property is conveniently located only 2-miles from local amenities, and 4-miles to downtown Worcester. The property has wonderful views over the valley towards Indian Lake.  Many of the proposed residences will take advantage of this view.  Others will have views over the tree-lined green spaces of the property.  The existing upper practice fields will remain as vegetated buffers to the westerly abutters. 

This project is the culmination of several years of strategic planning and partnership among Goddard Homestead Leadership, Board of Directors, and OnePoint Partners, a Senior Living Advisory firm based in Topsfield, MA.  Joan Cusson, long-time Executive Director of Goddard Homestead says, “We are so excited to carry on Goddard Homestead’s mission of providing practical senior living solutions for the people of Worcester who may not be able to afford more elaborate senior living options.  This has been such a collaborative effort by so many people, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue our mission for many years to come.” 

The new community is anticipated to open for residency in late 2024.  Early reservation opportunities for future residents will begin in spring of 2022.  Construction is expected to take approximately 20 months beginning in spring of 2023.  For more information, please contact Joan Cusson or Tracey King, Marketing Director, at 508-753-4890 or visit www.GoddardHomestead.org.

outside rendering

Architectural rendering for future development site

About Goddard Homestead:  Goddard/Homestead is a non-profit retirement community in Worcester, MA offering a unique approach to senior living that bridges the gaps between traditional independent living, assisted living, and nursing care through our unique combination of Supportive Independent Living and licensed Level IV Rest Home care.