Waverly Senior Services has proposed a 224-unit independent living community on the historic Glencoe estate in Radnor Township, a 43-acre property currently owned by the Haverford School. The plan calls for 208 multifamily housing units, 16 twin homes, and retention of the original 1907 mansion, though the surrounding dormitory buildings would come down. Waverly's president has pointed to a national shortage of senior housing as baby boomers age, and the organization currently serves around 365 residents, most of them local. The proposal is still early, with township approval and a formal zoning process ahead, and Waverly says any new construction will carry the same architectural character the Main Line is known for.
At the same time, a broader trend is playing out across the country: aging, underused church buildings are being converted into homes. As congregations shrink, dioceses and church boards are increasingly selling these buildings to developers, who are turning soaring ceilings, stained glass, and original stonework into some of the most distinctive residential conversions on the market. It is not a simple process, architects who specialize in these projects note that structural upgrades alone can run tens of dollars per square foot, since these buildings were never designed to support residential loads around the clock. But when done well, the results are striking, and increasingly sought after by buyers who want a home with real character.
- Waverly Senior Services has proposed a 224-unit independent living community on Radnor's historic Glencoe estate, still in the early approval stages
- The plan retains the estate's 1907 mansion while replacing its aging dormitory buildings
- Nationally, more churches are being converted into homes as congregations shrink and buildings go up for sale
- These conversions come with real structural costs, but often result in some of the most distinctive homes on the market
Whether it is a proposed senior campus or a converted chapel, these stories are a reminder that the Main Line's housing stock is always evolving. Keeping an eye on these shifts helps buyers and sellers alike understand where the market is headed next.
👉 Read more on the Radnor proposal here
Attribution: The Philadelphia Inquirer, Realtor.com
Photo Credit: Radnor Historical Society / Courtesy of Realtor.com
