Senior housing project in Irwin draws large response from prospective tenants

Joyce Edwards Palmer emerged from a packed meeting this week where Westmoreland County Housing Authority officials explained to more than 150 people what life might be like for those who will live in a 50-unit apartment building planned in Irwin.

What Palmer heard was music to her ears. She could move out of Wilkinsburg and to a more serene setting in Grand View Senior Residences, which is to be built on a hillside off Caruthers Lane and Laurel Avenue. It also will give her the opportunity to move closer to her son.

“I’m absolutely interested. I’ve lived there (Wilkinsburg) long enough,” Palmer said Monday outside the meeting at the North Huntingdon Town House.

At the session, housing authority representatives said prospective residents must be 62 or older and meet federal income guidelines and explained the application process.

Despite some neighborhood opposition, housing authority officials predicted there would be strong interest in the $14 million project. Their suspicions proved correct, judging by the overflow crowd at the hourlong meeting.

“It’s very popular. We expect a very, very strong interest in this property,” said James Kirshner, asset management director for the housing authority.

The demographics of the older population in Westmoreland County are a factor.

“We realize that a lot of senior citizens are moving from single-family homes,” said Erik Spiegel, director of architectural and engineering services for the authority.

For Paul McGee of North Huntingdon, who is living in a three-bedroom house, living in one of the 46 one-bedroom apartments will make life easier, he said. The building also will have four two-bedroom apartments.

“I’m absolutely interested,” McGee said.

The demand was strong enough that the authority filled all available time slots for May 31 interviews with prospective tenants and was filling appointments for June 1, said Michael Washowich, authority executive director. The authority will provide applications to 130 individuals when all time slots are filled.

No applications will be available until May 31, said Lynn Wackenhuth, tax credit manager for the authority. All the applications will be date- and time-stamped, Wackenhuth said, which will be a factor when the authority begins selecting prospective residents in January.

Veterans will get preference for eight of the 50 units, Washowich said.

Prospective tenants will have to prove they meet federal income guidelines that will be released in late May, Kirshner, said. The maximum income last year was $39,840 for a single person and $45,540 for two people.

Wackenhuth advised those interested that there will be “a lot of intrusive questions” about their financial status, which is required to get the federal tax credits that were sold to investors in the project.

After leaving the crowded meeting, Karen Edwards of Irwin said it is apparent that the supply of senior citizen housing does not meet the demand.

“They need to build another building,” Edwards said.

The authority has plans to add 36 units of patio homes on the North Huntingdon portion of the property, but that is not expected for a few more years.

As for the existing project, the foundation for the Grand View Senior Residences will be poured beginning next week and building will start by July 4, Spiegel said.

North Huntingdon Commissioner Lyndsay Wengrzyn said she was surprised by the overwhelming turnout — people filling all the chairs, standing around the public meeting room and spilling over into the adjoining commissioners meeting room and the hallway.

“I think it is a great move. Senior citizens need affordable housing,” Wengrzyn said.