Mercer County Housing Authority has agreed to take out an option on property in Hermitage on which it hopes to build apartments for low-income senior citizens.

The authority board Wednesday voted to pay $10,000 for a six-month option to buy 18.9 acres along Lamor Road, east of Joy Cone Co., from Broadway Associates.

The option can be renewed for another six months for $1, said authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel.

The option is important because possible funding sources require site control, Boosel said, adding that the $10,000 could be refunded if funding cannot be found.

"The whole thing hinges on us obtaining funding," he said.

Rien Construction Corp., Brookfield, has proposed building 75 apartments -- most of them in buildings of four apartments each -- and a community building. The development would have access to Lamor and Keel Ridge Road.

Rien is working up an estimate on the construction cost, Boosel said.

The sale price of the land is $226,300, he said.

Possible funding sources are the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and floating a bond issue, Boosel said.

At a meeting Monday, Hermitage Planning Commission members questioned whether neighbors had been notified of plans, the effect on traffic in the area and whether population density once the apartments are built would be too great.

Boosel said he believes the authority will be able to present a suitable plan for the project.

"A lot of times, when people hear about what we have planned, it solves a lot of issues," Boosel said.

The city and the authority have been talking about the need for affordable senior housing for more than a year. The city has set aside $440,000 for the project, and the authority, $187,000.