For many in and around Wellesley, the Grossman’s name has special significance. The Grossman family business began in the late 1800s when Louis Grossman left Russia to pursue the American dream. The Grossman’s first piece of property was in Quincy, purchased in 1907. The business later expanded across New England, and came to Wellesley in the 1960s. The Waterstone at Wellesley site was once home to a Grossman’s hardware store, which had been vacant for 16 years before it was cleared when work on Waterstone began.

A class of 21 graduate students from Boston University’s School of Management have adopted Waterstone at Wellesley, the 138-apartment luxury senior living community being built at 27 Washington St. on Route 16, for a semester-long real estate development project. Led by BU Master Lecturer Keith Munsell, the class visited the project site in March.

Some two-bedroom apartments have two bedrooms, a living area and an area that can be a dining space, den, or combination great room. There are some one-bedroom apartments with a bedroom, a living room and a space that could be used as a den or dining area.

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Wellesley will have beautiful bathrooms that include tile finishes, glass shower doors and designer fixtures. Independent living apartments with one bathroom will include a tiled walk-in shower. In two-bedroom apartments, there are two bathrooms. One will include a tub-shower combination and the other will have a walk-in shower.

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Chris Iannelli is the vice president of Cranshaw Construction and the project manager for the Waterstone at Wellesley construction. Cranshaw has been in business since 1983 and Chris has been employed there for about 11 years. Senior living communities are a large portion of Cranshaw’s portfolio, and Waterstone at Wellesley is the 20th such structure they’ve built. Read more about Chris’s insights into the project below.

Yes, the apartments at Waterstone at Wellesley will include top-of-the-line appliances, including washers and dryers. Please visit the Waterstone Welcome Center at 40 Washington St. to learn more about the appliances and layouts for the apartments.

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Yes. We will have ample underground parking for residents.

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Formed in 1985, Wellesley Design Consultants, Inc. is handling interior design for Waterstone at Wellesley. WDC is highly experienced with interior design services for adult living. In fact, WDC has a special area of focus and expertise with senior living, ranging from communities designed for active adults to those that include health care services. WDC has handled large-scale local, state and national projects. Anne Webb-Johnson is design principal, president, and founding principal of WDC. Before moving to the Boston area in 1973, she worked in firms in the Bahamas and England. Anne discusses Waterstone at Wellesley below.

Where is your team drawing inspiration for the general atmosphere of the community?

We are drawing inspiration from the exciting building that the architects have created and the trees and river that are a part of this site. The interiors will feature natural wood and stone in a style that is a 21^st century interpretation of Arts and Crafts. The many fireplaces will feature handmade-glazed tiles in rich colors to complement the textures around them.

The space directly across from the developing Waterstone at Wellesley site will soon house a Waterstone sales office. The lease for the office recently was signed and work is underway to get the space up and running. We’re hoping this space becomes a useful and informative tool for Wellesley and surrounding communities to learn about what Waterstone will offer. The office will feature Waterstone at Wellesley floor plans, architectural drawings, color schemes, sample materials, and sample bath and kitchen finishes.

We were pleased to have Elkus Manfredi Architects design Waterstone at Wellesley.  Here we talk to Principal, John Martin, AIA, LEED, AP, to get his perspective of the project.

What is exciting about this project?

Waterstone at Wellesley is an exciting project on many levels. It is exciting because it transforms an abandoned site in the heart of the Lower Falls village into a vital, mixed-use project with amenities for area residents. The complementary uses of a retail pharmacy, a prominent local medical practice, and luxury senior housing create a synergy and an opportunity for an important demographic segment of our population. Second, our clients committed to a high standard of design and quality for the entire project.