You have questions? We have answers.

There will be 174 residences at Opus Newton, with nine different one- and two-bedroom floor plans in a range of sizes from 682 to 1,420 square feet. The choice of apartments will allow you to find a comfortable home at Opus.

The apartments will be bright and open, with full kitchens, washers and dryers, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, attractive fixtures and finishes. Some will have balconies and some floor plans include den or home office space.

Opus Newton will be joined to Coleman House by a two-story connector filled with glass and light. The connector will consist of flexible gathering spaces to accommodate cultural and educational events of different types and sizes. A café, art studio, classroom and meeting rooms are part of this space. While residents can choose to go to the Jewish Community Center (JCC), there will also be a cardio and weight-training room and a fitness classroom at Opus. Coleman House also has community spaces that Opus residents will enjoy for some services and programs. Outside, for the enjoyment of our beautiful woodland setting, there will be patios, gardens and walking trails that connect residents to campus amenities and Newton Community Farm. Nahanton Park and Cutler Park are also just a short walk away.

Yes, garage parking available will be available for a fee. Because maintaining an auto is a significant expense, we are looking at options like Zip-Car and plan to make ride-share services such as Uber, Lyft, and GoGo shuttle service easily available to residents.

Yes. Opus Newton will meet LEED Gold requirements and will meet Passive House standards in the residential building. Green roofs and solar panels are also incorporated in the Opus design. The project is being built with sustainable and non-emitting materials that protect the health of residents and the environment. Every system is selected and every decision about materials is made with this important goal in mind. 

2Life had been in discussions with the JCC for several years about the potential to build Opus on this site. We liked the idea of multiple generations on the campus, the environment of wellness and fitness, the potential for programming partnerships with the JCC, the Farm and the Park, and the convenience and livability of nearby Newton Highlands and Needham. The additional advantage of a connection with our Coleman House community was also exciting to 2Life.

2Life believes that every older adult deserves the opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose in a dynamic, supportive environment. Opus is our answer to how we can make that opportunity available to people “in the middle” — those whose incomes are above the qualifying threshold for housing subsidy, but who aren’t comfortable with the pricing for traditional market rate retirement communities. This group represents 54% of older adults. We believe that Opus is a much-needed option, and that people will want to be part of this unique way of life — and the meaningful community — that Opus represents. Our hope is to develop multiple Opus communities across the greater Boston area. And we hope that other organizations in other cities will find our work and our prototype helpful and emulate it so that more older adults can live in meaningful community.

Opus — like all 2Life Communities — will be open to people of all faiths, and will be a welcoming, inclusive community that embraces diversity. 2Life is a Jewish organization that brings Jewish beliefs and traditions to our work — a commitment to honoring our fathers and mothers, and a belief that it is our responsibility to be part of Tikkun Olam or healing the world. Our communities evidence our values through profound respect for every individual, and the desire to do what is right and bring good to the world.

Generally, residents need to be at least 62 years of age. In the case of a couple, at least one member must meet the age requirement.

Yes. Residents of Opus will be eligible for a 60% discount on JCC membership. Many future residents have already begun participating in a variety of lectures and programs at the JCC. We look forward to this partnership growing and flourishing, and to the many possibilities of an intergenerational campus program.

Every Opus resident will make a commitment to volunteer approximately ten hours each month — called Opus Time — to help the community and their neighbors. We know that this generation of older adults is looking for purpose — to continue contributing. This is also one way that Opus can be more affordable, by activating our most valuable resource — the people who live here — to make the community thrive. Volunteer opportunities are many: teaching classes, supporting events, being a host or hostess in the café, organizing a program, helping a fellow resident. The hope is that residents will tap into a volunteer role that reflects a longtime passion or allows them to learn something new that they enjoy.

To become a resident at Opus Newton, you’ll pay a partially refundable Community Share before moving in, and a monthly fee that includes utilities, maintenance, a culinary credit, programs and events, wellness programming, and the services of a Care Navigator. Both the Community Share and monthly fee are based on the specific floor plan you choose and whether one or two people will occupy your apartment. Community Shares start in the low $400,000s.

No. There is no ownership or equity involved, and you won’t be responsible for paying the monthly fee once you move out. Neither will you have to fix up and sell your apartment. We maintain a list of interested potential residents and will take care of the sale. The Community Share will be partially refundable to you or your estate when your apartment at Opus is resold. And, while you are living at Opus, should you not have the funds to afford home care that you need as you get older, the refundable component of the Community Share can be borrowed against to pay for your care.

As a part of the City of Newton’s zoning requirements, nine of the apartments will comply with Newton’s inclusionary zoning law.

Opus is a completely different model with innovative programs designed to create a high quality of life while keeping the cost of living here affordable. Some of the main differences are:

•    Opus locates in vibrant communities where residents have easy access to nearby amenities. This means we don’t have to build amenities that would only be used by Opus residents.
•    In most Life Plan communities, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing are located on the campus so that residents can move to these facilities if they need care. At Opus, we will support residents in accessing quality medical care and bringing care into their apartments through partnerships with home care providers.
•    Our model also provides the services of a Care Navigator who will help residents and their family members identify the types of care that may be needed and trusted providers who can provide those services. In addition, Opus residents will be able to access care in smaller increments of time rather than having to pay minimums.
•    While Opus will have a robust professional staff to support residents, Opus residents will also volunteer 10 hours per month to help the Opus community and their neighbors. This integration will lead to more opportunities for connection and a greater sense of purpose for everyone.
•    The biggest difference may be in the hearts and minds of the people who choose to live here. Opus residents will need to be givers and seekers — people looking for agency and meaning in their lives and opportunities to continue to contribute and grow. This is the type of community we believe can be successful on many different levels, not just affordability.
 

2Life has developed high quality affordable housing for more than 50 years, and we believe that — done properly — affordable housing provides low-income individuals with a vibrant and fulfilling way of life. For us, the heartbreak over these many years has been having to turn people away from our communities because their incomes were too high — sometimes by only a few dollars — to qualify for affordable housing. Opus allows us to serve these families, and it is different than our affordable housing portfolio in a number of ways. First, residents will pay privately to live in the community. Our goal is to make this private-pay option affordable to a wider group of older adults through all that we have learned in our work, and through creativity and innovation. Because each resident is paying privately, we have devised smart ways to make Opus more affordable, leveraging the residents’ home equity and incorporating volunteerism. Opus will also have a broader range of apartment styles and sizes to accommodate its target market.

Absolutely not. 2Life is building more affordable housing at a rapid pace — as frequently as public funds allow — with exciting new projects coming to life on multiple sites. Opus allows us to bring our skills and our dedication to a new category of affordability — the “forgotten middle” who have earnings and own homes, but don’t have high wealth. Our goal is to expand affordability to all those who are failed by the market.

As we looked for a name for this new concept, Opus was the idea that seemed to represent our work in two important ways. First, we believe in older adults — that the best of life can still lie ahead — that drawing on everything they have experienced can culminate in a masterwork — their life’s Opus. Second, in addition to each individual’s “Opus”, the term also applies to the community as a whole. An Opus is a musical masterpiece that draws on every instrument in the orchestra. A violin by itself can be beautiful. A bassoon solo can be exquisite. But when you combine all the diverse and different sounds from all of the instruments, it is the combination of each unique sound coming together that creates an Opus — a masterwork. The people in our communities, each an individual, all joining together, will create our Magnum Opus.

Construction began in Spring 2023, and we anticipate about a 28-month build time. So, if you want to live at Opus Newton, it’s important to think ahead and become a member of the Opus waitlist as soon as possible.

Use our contact form to provide your name, email address and mailing address. We will contact you to share more information about Opus and invite you to upcoming educational and informational events. Alternately, you may call our marketing team at 617-912-8480.