See the Yankee Candle founder’s wild house, which has sat on the market for 2 years but finally has an interested buyer
Yankee Candle Founder lists house in Massachusetts
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 B-17, 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.
“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.
Take a peak inside the mind-boggling compound.
The former home of Yankee Candle founder, the late Michael Kittredge II, went on the market in September 2022.
Yankee Candle Founder’s estate goes up for sale
The $23 million listing quickly went viral thanks to its litany of amenities.
The sprawling estate is located about two hours outside Boston in Leverett, Massachusetts.
Yankee Candle founder estate hits the market
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.
The compound sat on the market for months before its price was slashed from $23 million to $14.9 million.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
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.
“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.
Wallack wants to turn the estate into an active senior living community.
Yankee Candle founder estate hits the market
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.
The project would offer 25% of units at affordable housing rates.
Wallack said the community would be comprised of 25% of units at affordable housing costs and 75% of units at market rate.
Someone making $84,000 a year would pay about $1,875 a month for an affordable unit, Wallack said.
The budget for the project is about $200 million, Wallack said.
Wallack serves as the development manager representing the Michael Kittredge trust.
The team is in the final stages of preparing an application to MassHousing.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
Wallack is working to garner more community support.
Take a peak at the original mansion before it potentially is redesigned.
The main residence has six full bathrooms and five half-bathrooms spread out between five bedrooms.
The house features 11 fireplaces, including in some of the bathrooms.
The lower level of the house has a 10-seat movie theater.
Kittredge was a car enthusiast who had two temperature-controlled car barns built at the estate.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
The spa is a major attraction at the compound and houses a fitness center, as well as basketball and tennis courts.
Wallack said his project would turn some of those tennis courts into pickleball courts for senior residents.
Kittredge had three outdoor tennis courts and one indoor court constructed at the estate.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
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.
The fitness center takes up 4,000 square feet and has multiple locker rooms.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
A bowling alley is situated in the 55,000-square-foot spa.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
The compound also has a two-story arcade.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
In addition to an outdoor pool, the estate also has an indoor Bellagio-style water park.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
It is full of slides, waterfalls, and palm trees.
The real estate company that originally listed the compound said the estate is set up like a private country club and includes a nine-hole golf course.
The clubhouse, which looks out on a pool and two cabanas, has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a full kitchen.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
The compound is also home to two guest houses.
“There was nothing he loved more than bringing his family and friends together and hosting parties at his home,” Kittredge’s son said in a 2022 press release.
Yankee Candle founder’s estate hits the market
