Hermitage Commissioner Larry Gurrera said he likes the plan to build senior apartments on property within sight of Lamor Road, but isn't thrilled with initial designs.

"Can't we dress up those houses?" he said of black-and-white drawings presented Thursday. "They're looking a little drab."

Architect Thomas J. Keller of Rien Construction, Brookfield, said he has no color drawings of the quadplexes that are being planned but pledged that the buildings will be aesthetically pleasing, with brick and sided facades.

"It certainly has to blend in with the community and be an asset to the community," said Mercer County Housing Authority Executive Director L. DeWitt Boosel.

Boosel said the units will be similar in look to 10 apartments being built in Mercer.

The authority, which is developing the project, recently took out an option on the property along Lamor Road, west of North Keel Ridge. Plans call for building 76 units, half of them one-bedroom apartments of 616 square feet, and the rest two-bedroom units of 772 square feet.

A second phase could add 24 apartments.

The project was initiated by the city in its desire for more affordable senior housing, and many details are being worked out. The authority was hoping to wait to build a road to Keel Ridge until the second phase, but city officials want it to be part of the first phase.

Commissioners also asked that parking configurations be re-examined so that shuttle buses can drop off residents closer to home, instead of letting them off at the community building.

Boosel said a lot will depend on what financing can be secured. Now that the authority has site control, it will be working on funding applications, he said.