Morning Sun Senior Lofts housing project in East Vandergrift delayed

A $13 million revitalization project involving the redevelopment of the former East Vandergrift Elementary School is on hold.

East Vandergrift officials said Morning Sun Senior Lofts, a proposed loft-style affordable senior-living residence on McKinley Avenue, was denied about $12 million in tax credits last November from the Pennsylvania Finance Housing Agency.

“Council was disappointed. But we are recontacting our elected officials and hope they can assist us,” East Vandergrift Council President Christopher Zelonka said.

Zelonka said he was advised by planners the project could take up to three years to finish.

Borough officials were hopeful a closing would occur this year.

“We are still very enthusiastic about the project, and we hope to see it completed,” Zelonka said.

State Sen. Jim Brewster and state Rep. Jason Silvas assisted with the initial application process.

William Kerr, a former superintendent at the Apollo-Ridge and Norwin school districts, has offered his consulting services at no cost to the borough.

Kerr served as principal for two years at the school before it closed in 1989. He said patience is required with projects of this scope.

“You never give up when it comes to competitive grants and state or federal funding,” Kerr said. “There’s no question the community supports it. It’s a process.”

East Vandergrift Councilman Jeremy Manners said feedback from borough residents is enthusiastic.

“The community is supporting this project and has since Day 1. There’s so much interest in seeing it developed,” said Manners, who recalled the building last was used as a church before being condemned.

Constructed in the 1930s, the school once served students in grades K-6.

The building is deteriorating and is considered by some residents to be an eyesore. In 2020, borough officials circulated a petition among the borough’s 600 residents, asking for signatures of support for the project.

That petition was included with the initial project application. Kerr said plans are underway to strengthen the application with additional data.

Officials plan to resubmit the application in late spring.

MVAH Partners of Ohio, which specializes in affordable housing development nationwide, is a partner in the project.

The Morning Sun Senior Lofts project will serve residents 62 and older with incomes ranging from 20% to 60% of the area’s average income.

The average household income in the Vandergrift area is $42,261, according to data provided by the U.S. Census.

Proposed building amenities include parking, a fitness center, outside seating, kitchenette and serving area and laundry facilities.

When completed, the building will offer 42 one- and two-bedroom residences.

The condemned building is owned by Westmoreland County Land Bank.

In a letter to the editor published July 6 in the Tribune-Review, Zelonka and Councilwoman Karen Virostek stressed the need for affordable, quality senior citizen housing.

“Morning Sun Senior Lofts will preserve and repurpose the former East Vandergrift Elementary School, which is a landmark building and will provide much needed programs and services for senior citizens,” they wrote.

Dennis Cestra Jr., president at Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Pennsylvania, said there’s a major need for 55+ developments and senior care communities in the Pittsburgh region, but supply lags behind demand.

Citing a large baby boom generation, Cestra said a larger group of people aging has led to expanding housing needs.

“In the U.S., baby boomers aren’t moving out of their homes because their housing options are limited and new home building can only do so much,” Cestra said.

Cestra said lifestyle considerations such as transportation, dining, fitness, skilled nursing and 24-hour care all are amenities that are considered in regards to new senior housing developments.