Mercer County Housing Authority received proposals from three developers it is already involved in projects with to build a senior housing complex in Hermitage.

By Thursday's deadline, these developers tendered proposals:

   » Rien Construction of Brookfield, the general contractor in the redevelopment of Steel City Terrace, Farrell, and modernization of Malleable Heights, Sharon.

   » Trek Development, Pittsburgh, the developer of a senior apartment complex in Mercer, which is under construction.

   » Falbo/PennRose Joint Partnership, Pittsburgh, the developer of the Steel City redevelopment.

The authority requested proposals to build 60 to 75 units.

Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel said the authority has about 45 days to review the proposals.

"We haven't even opened them yet," he said Friday.

Hermitage and authority officials have been talking for more than a year about a need for affordable senior housing in the city, a need that was confirmed in a study conducted by Barone, Murtha, Shonberg and White of Pittsburgh.

The study said a 75-unit complex aimed at low-income residents was justified.

Boosel said the city will be invited to send a representative to participate in the authority's review process.

"This is a housing authority project but certainly we are not doing it in a void," Boosel said. "We have been working with city officials and we will continue to do that."

Should the developers qualify under a grading system, they will be invited to make personal presentations, Boosel said.

The developers were invited to propose possible funding schemes. The city has set aside $440,000 for the project, but other funding will be sought.

No site has been chosen for the apartment complex. Boosel said sites have been looked at, but the authority wants the developer to be part of the discussion.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at

jpinchot@sharonherald.com