Senior housing units on hold in Westmoreland County

Published: Thursday, June 19, 2014, 12:01a.m.

Plans to build a 46-unit, low-income senior citizen apartment building have been put aside as Westmoreland County Housing Authority officials look to construct a $6 million headquarters in Hempfield.

The authority will seek to borrow cash to finance the office building, which will replace an aging, 30,000-square-foot structure that houses the agency's 60-member administration and staff.

We're excited to continue on with what we set out to do on our 55 acres of property, said authority Executive Director Michael Washowich.

The authority last year completed construction on an $11.5 million senior citizen apartment building on its grounds. All 45 units of South Greengate Commons are filled, prompting officials to plan for a companion building with as many as 40 apartments for low-income seniors.

Officials said the $11 million project would be funded through the sale of federal tax credits, but late last week the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency rejected the authority's plan.

Washowich said the authority will submit a second application to fund the project early next year. The delay will push construction back by at least a year and into 2016.

In the meantime, the authority will move ahead with construction of its headquarters building. The project was first proposed several years ago during initial plans to convert the agency's wooded acreage south of Route 30 in Hempfield.

Our existing building is in tremendous need of rehabilitation, Washowich said. By reducing the size of the building and making it energy-efficient, it makes much more sense to build it new.

The 24,000-square-foot structure will face the existing headquarters building.

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Senior housing units on hold in Westmoreland County