See the Yankee Candle founder's wild house, which has sat on the market for 2 years but finally has an interested buyer
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- Michael Kittredge II's son put the Yankee Candle founder's Massachusetts estate up for sale in 2022.
- The compound, which features an indoor water park and bowling alley, was originally listed for $23 million.
- After two years on the market, the estate could soon be redeveloped as senior living.Β
Three years after Yankee Candle founder Michael Kittredge II died in 2019, his son, Michael Kittredge III, put the family's sprawling 120,000-square-foot compound on the market for a whopping $23 million.
Now, after more than two years of no movement and a significant slash to its asking price, the historic Massachusetts estate could soon be transformed into an entirely different kind of living space. The Kittredge family has enlisted Josh Wallack, a Florida-based developer, to oversee the re-imagination of the mansion into a luxurious senior living community that features affordable housing.
In a conversation with Business Insider, Wallack outlined his vision for "Pioneer Point at Juggler Meadow: A 55+ Active Adult Community," a $200 million project that aims to incorporate all the amenities of the Kittredge estate into a community that helps address Massachusetts' housing crisis.Β
"This is going to be amazing. Regular people can buy one of these units and live in this amazing place that is like heaven on Earth," Wallack said.Β
Take a peak inside the mind-boggling compound.
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The $23 million listing quickly went viral thanks to its litany of amenities.Β
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The estate encompasses 120,000 square feet of living space spread across eight separate structures, including a main house, a clubhouse, a spa, a pool cabana, two guest houses, and two car barns.
The main residence is a 25,000-square-foot house designed in the colonial style. It was originally constructed in the 1980s.
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Wallack and his family stayed at the estate's guest home in 2022 after he hit it off with Michael "Mick" Kittredge III.
As an expert in rezoning, Wallack said the Kittredge family asked him what he thought they should do with the property.Β
"Instead of looking for one billionaire to buy this mansion, let's take all the land underneath it and build 700 homes and allow regular people to live here and use your father's mansion as the social club," Wallack said he told the family.
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If approved, Wallack's plan would allow people 55 and older to buy individual units on the property, where they would have full access to amenities like an onsite restaurant, cafe, tennis and pickleball courts, and a beauty parlor.Β
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Wallack said the community would be comprised of 25% of units at affordable housing costs and 75% of units at market rate.Β
Someone making $84,000 a year would pay about $1,875 a month for an affordable unit, Wallack said.
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Wallack serves as the development manager representing the Michael Kittredge trust.Β
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Wallack is working to garner more community support.
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The house features 11 fireplaces, including in some of the bathrooms.
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Wallack said his project would turn some of those tennis courts into pickleball courts for senior residents.Β
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The indoor tennis court also doubles as a concert venue, which has hosted such bands as The Doobie Brothers, as well as KC and The Sunshine Band.
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