With the Rye City Council election around the corner on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, MyRye.com is publishing a series of issue focused articles highlighting the views of our candidates running for mayor and for city council.
Today we are highlighting the issue of development in Rye with a focus on the proposed expansion of The Osborn retirement home. The expansion plan will be discussed during a second public hearing being held by the Rye Planning Commission this Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
The the first public hearing on September 9, 2025, and in prior Planning Commission meetings, most concerns centered around a number of issues including tree and tree preservation (The Osborn campus is a recognized “Level-1 Arboretum” and CEO Matt Anderson discussed The Osborn’s commitment to maintaining this status back in 2022 during earlier stages of the planned expansion), viewshed issues (in particular how the planned building #5 at the interaction of the Boston Post Road and Old Post Road will appear), traffic issues (both during construction and afterwards) and flooding issues (nearby resident Mary Ann Haines showed a video of storm water coming over the wall along Theall Road) (see all videos below). The Planning Commission also asked The Osborn and its consultants to answer 83 comments raised by the City of Rye’s own consulting firm LaBella Associates detailed in an August 29, 2025 letter.
Now learn about the views of each of our six council candidates on the proposed expansion of The Osborn retirement home. Be sure to read Mayoral Candidates on The Osborn Retirement Home Expansion:
Democratic Party Candidates:
- Marion Anderson
- Amy Kesavan
- James Ward
GOP Party Candidates:
- James Fee
- Robin Thrush Jovanovich
- Maria Tufvesson Shuck
What are your current views on the plan to redevelop The Osborn retirement community on the Boston Post Road? And what should the City be doing to represent its interests?
Anderson: It is important to address the needs of our senior population. Rye City must collaborate with the Osborn to address safety, traffic, community character, environmental as well as affordability concerns.
Kesavan: Development is always a delicate balance. Therefore, we must ensure this project balances senior care and housing needs with strong environmental protections, including management of stormwater and sewage systems, transportation alternatives, and respect for neighborhood character and safety.
Ward: With an aging population, development of senior facilities is important but it needs to strike a delicate balance. Therefore, we must ensure this project meets the community’s senior housing needs while addressing the concerns we have of all development in the city: safety, character, traffic and sustainability.
Fee: My understanding is that The Osborn, a valuable and longtime part of our community, has developed plans that conform to the zoning changes the Council approved a few years ago.
Jovanovich: In order to remain a first-rate retirement community, The Osborn needs modernization. It has nearby competitors and can’t rest on its beautiful arboretum to attract new residents. The immediate neighbors expressed their concerns about the project and The Osborn made changes to the plan to lessen their concerns.
Shuck: The Osborn is one of the City’s largest taxpayers and employers and a well-run institution that has been an important part of the Rye fabric for over 100 years. We should make every effort to make it possible for the Osborn to continue to thrive, while of course considering other residents’ valid interests. My understanding is that the project is proceeding according to plan and current zoning laws and that the City is already represented by the Planning Commission and Board of Architectural Review.
VIDEO PLAYLIST BELOW (videos include planning commission meetings and the first public hearing):
Read all our candidate interviews:
GOP Slate – Henderson / All in for Rye
- Q&A with Mayoral Candidate Bill Henderson
- Q&A with City Council Candidate James Fee
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Robin Thrush Jovanovich
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Maria Tufvesson Shuck
Independent Rick McCabe / McCabe for Mayor:
Democratic Slate – Nathan, Anderson, Kesavan & Ward for Rye:
- Q&A with Mayoral Candidate Josh Nathan
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Marion Anderson
- Q&A with City Council Candidate Amy Kesavan
- Q&A with City Council Candidate James Ward
