The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Thursday, November 14, 2002


Authority talks with Rien
about senior apartments

By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer

Mercer County Housing Authority has chosen to continue discussions with Rien Construction of Brookfield on building a senior-citizen housing complex in Hermitage.

The board did not hire Rien, but will only talk with Rien for the time being.

Rien is general contractor for the redevelopment of Steel City Terrace, Farrell, and the modernization of Malleable Heights, Sharon.

The authority also received proposals from Trek Development, Pittsburgh, which is working with the authority to develop a senior-citizen housing complex in Mercer, and Falbo/PennRose Joint Partnership, Pittsburgh, the developer of the Steel City redevelopment.

"I think we could work with any one of them," authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel said. "We have worked with all of them and have a track record with all of them."

City Manager Gary Hinkson said he's pleased with the choice.

"This is a local firm," he said. "We've worked with Rien on some of their projects in Hermitage. We'd welcome the opportunity to work with them on this project."

What set Rien apart was that it has control of vacant land on Lamor Road, near Joy Cone Co., Boosel said.

But, he said, that site has not been accepted by the authority.

The authority asked for proposals to build 60 to 75 apartments, but the size of the site chosen will determine the number of apartments, he said.

Rien has to prove the financial feasibility of the project it proposed, Boosel said.

Funding strategies being considered include a bond issue and a multi-source scheme headed by tax credits.

In any case, the authority has committed $187,000, and Hermitage has set aside $440,000.

While Hermitage had a member of its economic development committee help evaluate the proposals, "The city's role in this is going to primarily be a financial one," Hinkson said.

Later discussions will determine how best to use the city's money, he said.

"We have to move pretty quickly because we hope to prepare (funding) applications for the spring of 2003," Boosel said.

Hermitage and authority officials have been talking for more than a year about the need for affordable senior-citizen housing in Hermitage. A study by Barone, Murtha, Shonberg and White of Pittsburgh confirmed the need and said a 75-unit complex aimed at low-income residents was justified.

"I would say we're pleased with the process," Hinkson said. "We knew it wouldn't happen overnight, that it would take a couple of years."



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