School site set to become affordable housing for seniors
LOS ANGELES: There is now a growing trend to convert obsolete school sites into affordable housing for seniors.
Where children once learned, now seniors can enjoy the golden years in affordable comfort.
On Monday, Delaware county, state and federal officials joined with Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez to unveil Saint Joseph Place, a new affordable housing community for independent seniors.
The 50-apartment complex was built in the historic St. Joseph’s parish elementary school, which closed in 2010 in the face of declining enrollment.
The multiple buildings have been vacant since.
“This is the type of thing that happens when the church and the state come together,” said Pérez who noted the facility is the sixth developed by Catholic Housing and Community Services (CHCS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the first in the suburbs.
“In May of 2018 St. Joseph’s parish was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and the architecture preserves that historic construction,” Pérez said. “This space is vital to the fabric of this neighborhood.
“This building was established to serve our young ones, and now it continues to serve our ‘continued young ones,’ in a different way. We are so happy today.”
Collingdale Mayor Donna Spadea’s children attended the school.
“This is something our borough needed,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place to be. I know everyone that is moving in will enjoy this beautiful residence and will enjoy themselves and have a place to call home: to be yourself and have fun and enjoy the golden years.”
Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor said the facility will serve residents over the age of 62 that may need housing assistance.
“Every resident deserves to live in a home that is safe and affordable. County council is grateful for community partners such as CHCS who work to ensure our residents have safe and affordable housing,” Taylor said. ”It’s important to care for and protect our senior community.”
Heather Huot, CHCS director, said the $20 million project included $750,000 in capital funding from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as a HUD rental subsidy for 21 of the 50 units; the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which gave $12.5 million in tax credits over 10 years; $1.2 million from Delaware County; the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh contributed $500,000 to the project; as well as historic tax credits over $2.5 million and private investment of over $2 million.
Huot said rents will vary with the subsidized HUD units rated at 30% of the renter’s income.
The main building was originally two buildings constructed in the 1920s. It consisted of a church, which was converted to a school, and then added to.
Cornerstones on the building are dated 1916 and 1928. The annex building was constructed in the 1950s.
Construction on the conversion project began in 2021.