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Life Communities, a senior housing developer and advocate, celebrated the completion of Leland House in Waltham, Massachusetts. The $37 million development replaced the former 38-bed Leland Home, which provided care to older adults for over 100 years. All 68 apartments at Leland House are affordable to households with incomes up to 60% of the area median income.
Residents began moving into the property in December 2024, after a two-year construction process that started in 2023. The building is located adjacent to the William F. Stanley Senior Center and features universal design elements, sustainability features, and a vibrant Village Center with programs and services for residents.
At the ribbon-cutting celebration, Leland House resident Cissy Spear shared her personal story of struggling to afford housing after retirement. She and her husband were forced to move into a small apartment due to rising costs, but were eventually able to secure a spot at Leland House. Spear urged attendees to invest in more affordable housing opportunities for seniors.
Event attendees included U.S. Representative Katherine M. Clark, Waltham Mayor Jeanette McCarthy, and state officials who highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing the region's growing housing crisis. Secretary Edward Augustus noted that housing "underpins everything else" and praised the City of Waltham and 2Life for their collaboration.
Leland House serves as a model for affordable, service-enriched living that addresses economic insecurity and loneliness. The building features on-site maintenance staff, care coordination services, and emergency response. Funders and donors to the project include the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, City of Waltham Community Preservation Committee, and MassDevelopment.
2Life develops, owns, operates, and provides supportive services to 11 communities across seven campuses in Massachusetts, totaling over 1,600 apartments under management. The nonprofit has additional projects underway or in development in Newton, Lynn, Mattapan, and Devens.
