HERMITAGE City picks authority as partner for project

The authority made a strong financial commitment to the project but its rival didn't.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The city has picked Mercer County Housing Authority to be its partner in the development of some senior citizen rental housing.
It was clear from information presented by the housing authority and its rival, Mercer County Community Action Agency, that the authority had more money to put into the pot.
The authority offered $15,000 to help finance both market and feasibility studies for a project and said it was willing to put up at least $180,000 more in construction funds.
The community action agency said it could put some of its own money into a project, but made no firm commitment.
Both organizations expressed an interest in helping to build and manage a senior citizen complex, and both said they have resident support services in place to do that.
No project yet: There is no specific project yet, but city officials have been talking for some time about the need for rental apartments for senior citizens in the city and have had a number of requests for that type of development from the public.
No location has been picked, nor has the city determined how large a complex should be built, said Gary Hinkson, city manager.
Planning, financing and construction of a complex would probably take at least two years.