Thirty-five acres of former farmland in Unity soon may provide homes for the area’s growing senior population.

Latrobe-area homebuilder and developer Jim Thomas is planning to construct 131 patio homes, known as Frye Farm Estates, on an L-shaped piece of ground with entrances off both Frye Farm and Beatty County roads.

Thomas hopes to begin grading the hilltop site this year. “We’re doing it all at one time,” he said of the development. “It’s not going to be in phases.”

Limited to occupants age 55 or older, the single-story units will include a mix of two- and three-bedroom designs. Thomas plans to built 59 duplexes, three triplexes and one quad building.

Up to a quarter of the dwellings will have basements.

“As we go up a grade, we’ll take advantage of the slope,” Thomas said.

Thomas is partnering with Scalise Real Estate to market the homes. He said prices likely will range between $250,000 and $325,000, with residents owning the dwelling and land.

Thomas’ previous housing developments include two in neighboring Derry Township: The Village at Chestnut Highlands, off Greenfield Road, and The Village at Whispering Knoll, another senior community, along Kingston Club Road.

“We have a huge senior population in the county,” Thomas noted. “We make the housing age-restrictive to be more protective of the residents.”

Census Bureau estimates show Westmoreland County’s population totaling 352,590, with a median age of 47. There were an estimated 78,000 county residents age 65 or older, representing about 22% of the population.

Access to Frye Farm Estates from Frye Farm Road will be via Lois Lane, to be renamed Lois Road. The road also provides access to SonRise Church.

The development’s frontage on Beatty County Road is located opposite from the township municipal building.

Township supervisors have given subdivision approval of the development, but local officials must approve several other items, including: a developer’s agreement with the township; documents creating a homeowners’ association; plans for stormwater management and erosion and sediment control; and names for interior roads that are to be turned over to the township.

“We have about 6,300 feet of road to put in,” Thomas said.

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