The Residence at Westport — our first assisted living community — opened last summer, opposite Greens Farms Elementary School.
A second one is planned for the opposite side of town.
Maplewood Senior Living has proposed a 3-story facility for the former Dragone Classic Motorworks site, diagonally across from Kings Highway Elementary.
Site plan for the proposed assisted living facility. Post Road East is on the right; Kings Highway North and Ludlow Street are on the left.
The property has a long history with automobiles. It was for many years the home of the Small Car Company — for a while, the most successful Volkswagen dealer in the US. In 2018 it was rezoned to allow an electric car dealership (rumored to be Tesla).
The current tenant is Carvana, a used car dealer that sells entirely online. Nearby buildings include retail and residences, with 8 apartments.
The former Dragone property, and its neighbor, on Post Road West.
Maplewood’s corporate headquarters are on Gorham Island, off Parker Harding Plaza. They operate 15 senior living communities in 5 states. Other Connecticut locations include Southport, East Norwalk, Newtown, Darien, Bethel, Danbury and Orange.
Plans call 95 units: 49 for assisted living, 46 for memory and full care. Two of the assisted living units will be designated as affordable. The facility will be called Maplewood at Westport.
Artists’ rendering of Maplewood at Westport.
Because part of the property lies within the Kings Highway North Local Historic District, Maplewood and Landtech — the Saugatuck-based engineering and environmental firm — have worked with neighbors, and Westport’s Historic District Commission, since June.
Two “historic residences” — over 50 years old — will be preserved.
One house at 174 Post Road West will be relocated to 38 Kings Highway North.
The existing home at 38 Kings Highway North, with a rendering of the home that will be relocated from 174 Post Road West.
Another, at #172, will be moved slightly, and designated as affordable.
The new location of the house at 172 Post Road West.
Maplewood’s building will be tucked into the hill. Only the roof will be visible from Kings Highway. Landscaping and vegetation will be added to the site, and on some private property.
All contaminated soil — the legacy of decades as a car dealership — will be removed.
The proposal goes before the Flood & Erosion Control Board in March, with the Conservation Commission to follow. The target date for opening is late summer or early fall of 2022.