Tysons is getting its first high-rise continuing care facility in 2023.
That’s right, high-rise. The vertical and urban design is a one-of-a-kind in Northern Virginia and is hoping to offer a taste of luxury to future residents looking to take their retirement lifestyle to new heights.
Known as The Mather, the 300-unit community will offer continuing care through apartment-style retirement living, as well as on-site assisted living and skilled nursing and memory care for incoming residents ages 62 and older.
The property will offer floor plans starting at $650,000 that range from 850 square feet to 3,300 square feet, and will feature luxury-style, customizable features, such as gas range stoves, hardwood floors and walk-in closets.
The on-site parking garage will feature a “mechanized valet system,” and the property will boast a 3-acre park in the middle of the city, with bocce courts, a dog park and a sculpture garden, according to the recently approved design plans.
The development was originally approved in 2012 as a mixed-use development with 1.44 million square feet of residential space, but was later approved this year on June 25 through a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors.
The project is set to cost $450 million to complete and will be constructed at the property intersection of Westbranch Drive and West Park Drive. The structure’s property will feature two buildings, 78 feet apart and angled for resident privacy, as well as a five-story bridging element.
We spoke with Gale Morgan, the senior vice president, about why Mather Life Ways, the non-denominational, not-for-profit parent company, chose Tysons for its new development, and what makes The Mather unique.
What is The Mather offering to future residents?
We have tagged ourselves as “luxury of a different kind,” which means we provide a life care plan that starts with an amazing retirement lifestyle within a highly walkable community, and seamlessly transitions into continuing care. The Mather lifestyle allows you to truly decide how you’re going to spend the next 10 to 15 years of your life through educational, social and cultural activities, as well as having the peace of mind that down the road, should you need assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care, you will have that option, and you can still enjoy today.
What makes The Mather different than other continuing care facilities in the area?
Part of what makes it different is that we focus on whole-person wellness. That means we will aim for over 90% of residents following a consistent fitness routine, and there will be a fitness center with personal trainers, and several wellness centers for residents to participate in. It’s truly a full wellness campus when you consider the spiritual aspects, the mindfulness training and the emphasis we have on the educational, social and mind-and-body activities. Otherwise, there will be a full concierge service to help with grocery needs, laundry needs, planning travel itineraries and more. We will also have three different restaurants on-site, not like dining areas, but actual restaurants.
What costs should residents be aware of?
You start by completing a priority reservation for $1,000 (which, if you apply know, you qualify for pre-construction pricing and it allows you time to plan accordingly), and go through the residency approval process (medical and financial qualifications are considered). Then you pay your entrance fee, which includes the fee of your home. Your monthly costs equate to your utilities, a certain amount of food and beverage, housekeeping fees (which includes linen services) and full access to all of the amenities on the property. They also contribute to your current and future health care needs. They can range anywhere from $4,800 to $10,000 per month.
The Mather claims to “protect your estate.” What does that mean?
Each home as an entrance fee and you know that when you leave The Mather, you’re going to have 90% of your initial investment into your property returned within 180 days. Plus, when you are paying your monthly fees, that cost is also going toward your future health care needs, such as memory care or skilled nursing services, and should you need medical coverage in the future, it’s going to be provided at your monthly fee rather than escalating. Also, if you’re a couple who owns a property, you can also have one partner in memory care and another in their residency, full-time, for only one monthly fee. That way there is no need to pay for two different locations for both partners, and they can stay together rather than being split up at separate locations.
Why Tysons?
We were inspired by the revitalization through the Tysons 2050 plan and what Fairfax County has envisioned for the future of the city. We love the vision of Tysons. It’s changing to not just be a location where people work and shop, it’s convenient and a place where people can live.
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