Lasell Village, a senior retirement community adjacent to Lasell University, recently announced an expansion plan for housing new independent-living residents. The new building, McGuire Hall, will contain 42 new apartments, a new bistro, wellness and fitness centers, a multipurpose room, a library, and an elevated footbridge that will connect it to Lasell’s Village Town Hall. In addition, Lasell Village plans to renovate its main building by adding seven supported living units, modernizing its skilled nursing facility to include all private rooms, and shifting to a more sustainable nursing model that will align with senior residents’ needs.
To assist with these renovations, MassDevelopment issued a $134,850,000 tax-exempt bond that was sold through a public offering. MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, works closely with businesses, nonprofits, banks, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. Approximately $90 million of the proceeds will be used to renovate and expand the Lasell Village campus, while $30 million will refinance previously issued debt; the remaining $15 million will pay miscellaneous costs and fees.
“Lasell Village provides a first-rate living experience with unique opportunities for seniors to stay connected and engaged through learning,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “MassDevelopment is proud to provide tax-exempt financing to help this growing community renovate, expand, and welcome additional residents.”
Part of the $90 million for expansion will enable Lasell Village to purchase 1.37 acres of nearby land owned by Lasell University at 222 Grove Street, 216 Grove Street, 24 Robin Dell, and property located adjacent to 120 Seminary Avenue.
The nonprofit retirement community first opened in 2000, after Lasell University approved plans for it in 1992. Currently, Lasell Village has approximately 225 residents in its independent living apartments.
In collaboration with Lasell University, Lasell Village has created an opportunity for residents to participate in lifelong learning activities, averaging a total of 450 hours a year. This personalized program – which began as a requirement for residents – laid the foundations for the close educational and social connections between Lasell Village and Lasell University and has become an integral part of the senior retirement community.
“This [renovation] project is about more than bricks and mortar — it’s about expanding what’s possible as we age,” said Lasell Village President Zehra Abid-Wood. “By deepening our continuum of care and growing our community, we’re reinforcing our commitment to lifelong learning, intergenerational connection, and aging with purpose. We’re proud to build on Lasell Village’s legacy as a national model for what senior living can and should be.”
All buildings in Lasell Village are named for influential educators. The new McGuire Hall will be named in honor of Jean McGuire, the first African American woman on the Boston School Committee. She helped found METCO in the 1960s and remains active in issues regarding education and civil rights.
The project is set to be finished by spring of 2027.
