The property at 242 Sandwich Road was on its way to becoming an intermediate care facility, but with the changing climate of senior living, developer Fred Mannix has other plans. 

Now, Mannix wants to turn the property into 55+ affordable housing, which would be known as the “Crossroads Apartments.” It would be a three-story building with 60 one- and two-bedroom units, indoor parking and a possible solarium on the roof. 

Mannix presented his plan to the Select Board at its Tuesday, Dec. 19 meeting in hopes of gaining their support. In the end, the Board voted 3-0 to issue a letter in favor of the project.

The project is being completed through the state’s Local Initiative Program, which allows the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to provide technical assistance to communities and developers who are creating affordable housing opportunities. According to the Office, this assistance qualifies as a “subsidy.”

Attorney for Mannix Peter Teitelbaum, said assisted living facilities “are becoming disfavored” on the federal and state levels. 

He said, “As us baby boomers get older, the desire is to try and keep us in our homes, or at least apartments, and that way avoid the entire Medicaid debacle.”

Mannix said staffing was also a concern for the original project, adding there is “a real issue” in the health industry due to a lack of interest in working at such facilities.

Teitelbaum said unlike other developers who are focused on “density, density, density,” this plan would actually shrink the project, which originally intended to be a four-story building with 84 units.

Mannix said, “We were looking into doing something that the town needs.”

Teitelbaum said the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities and Wareham Housing Authority are interested in writing letters in support of the new project: “[The Housing Authority] have hundreds of people in Wareham who are seniors who are looking for apartments. They don’t have the room. They just have a gigantic waiting list.”

This past fall, Mannix received an extension on his original two-year permit, which will now expire in 2025, according to Teitelbaum. 

A new traffic study for the proposed project revealed there would be a slight increase in cars, but less big trucks, as they would no longer need food and supplies deliveries. 

He said finances for this project are “a bit of a concern,” but he believes funding from the state will help as Gov. Maura Healey is making an effort to expand housing, especially for seniors.

The project was submitted to the Sewer Department before the moratorium went into effect, which will allow the units to connect to sewer. However, Mannix acknowledges that the cost to install a sewer pipe on Sandwich Road will be steep. 

The exact rents for the proposed apartments is unclear, but Mannix said he plans to follow Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines.

Mannix said the property itself is in a spot that has “everything” close by, including Tobey Hospital as well as shopping and recreational opportunities.

He said he understands how complex affordable housing projects can be and that there is still lots more to do, “but this is the first step.”

He added he believes it is “something that the town needs and would be proud of when we’re done with it.”

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan said in past projects, there has been some “pushback” from the town as some believe Wareham needs more family housing. 

However, Sullivan said that by providing these affordable units, seniors will be able to sell their homes, which can open up more opportunities for families.