The Kansas Masonic Home is selling to a new owner; here’s the plan
Just about a year after the Kansas Masonic Home suddenly closed, stunning its elderly residents and their families, the building is reopening under new ownership.
Wichita-based Oxford Senior Living is expected to close on its purchase of the 17-acre property in Delano by the end of this year. New residents could begin moving in within 45 days.
“I have been looking for opportunities that I thought might benefit the more affordable side of assisted living,” said president Chris Dennis.
“Honestly, the interior was much nicer than I thought it would be in the assisted living and the independent areas,” he said. “There are some parts of the building that aren’t so nice that will need extensive renovation.”
The new facility will be known as Oxford Vista and initially will have 137 units of independent and assisted living and memory care.
In the future, Oxford may partner with a skilled nursing operator for another 65 units for people needing acute care.
Dennis said research shows that by 2029 when the last of the baby boomers turn 65, 54% of them won’t be able to afford senior housing.
“My generation has not saved enough for retirement,” he said.
Part of that is the lack of pensions these days, Dennis said.
“There’s a great need for something that is more affordable for senior housing, and that’s what we’re hoping to provide,” he said. “We are targeting the senior that can’t afford full-blown market rates such as our Oxford Grand.”
A certain percentage of the new Oxford units will be for people on Medicaid, but Dennis said a lot of seniors who can’t afford market rates also don’t qualify for Medicaid. That’s who he hopes to attract.
Dennis won’t disclose how much Oxford is paying for the property, which is at 400 S. Martinson.
About 10 of the 17 acres currently are vacant.
“We will develop a master plan on what would be the best use of that vacant land,” Dennis said.
Robert Lawrence, a founding father of Wichita for whom the former Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is named, once owned the property.
“It was his homestead,” Dennis said. “He gave it to the Masons, and originally they cared for widows and orphans.”
The property’s Spanish-style, red-tiled buildings opened over a number of different decades. Dennis said the oldest building on the grounds is a 1906 chapel. The building will remain a chapel.
Oxford started in 2010 and now has 23 senior living communities in five states. Three are in Wichita: Glen Carr House Memory Care in Derby; the Oxford Grand Assisted Living & Memory Care and Oxford Villa Active Senior Apartments in west Wichita.
Dennis said the Oxford Vista is a joint venture with Wichita’s Murfin Inc. Oxford operates four of Murfin’s senior living facilities in Oklahoma.
Oxford Vista will hire 75 people for the new facility.
Dennis said Vista made sense for the name since it means view, and “there’s a great view out of some of the apartments.” He said the grounds have a lot of trees, too.
“It’s just beautiful.”
