Housing authority sets construction goals for 2024

Rich Cholodofsky, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.
·2 min read

Jan. 13—Tenants could begin moving into the Westmoreland County Housing Authority's newest facility as early as May, officials said Friday.

Construction of the 50-unit Grand View Senior Residences development in North Huntingdon started last year and is expected to be completed this spring, according to housing authority Executive Director Michael Washowich.

"We're on schedule and hoping that by the end of May, we'll move our first tenants in," Washowich said.

The $14 million construction project is the third new facility built by the authority over the last decade. It joins Grand View Estates and Odin View Apartments, sister senior housing complexes built on the authority's former headquarters grounds on South Greengate Road in Hempfield.

Washowich said about 230 prospective tenants are on the waiting list for apartments Grand View Senior Residences, which is being built behind the Norwin Library.

The authority operates more than 2,500 housing units in 45 housing communities throughout Westmoreland County.

Plans are in place for two new construction projects to begin this year, officials said.

Erik Spiegel, the authority's director of architecture and engineering services, said work construction of 24 single-family cottages to be built on 2 acres of land in Norvelt, Mt. Pleasant Township, is expected to start this fall. Church View Estates was initially estimated to cost about $5 million. Financing for the project on land donated to the authority in 2021 by the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg is underway. Construction could be completed in mid-2025, Spiegel said.

Officials said the authority also is eyeing plans for construction of a 50-unit senior housing complex in Rostraver. Spiegel said the authority will seek to purchase about 6 acres in the township this year and seek federal tax credits to pay for the construction project.

Rich Cholodofsky is a TribLive reporter covering Westmoreland County government, politics and courts. He can be reached at rcholodofsky@triblive.com.