CLEARFIELD – Clearfield may have a new age restricted home in its future. Dana Frankenburg, representing the Lutheran Service Society of Western Pennsylvania presented a plan for a $4 million, 35-unit building to the Clearfield County Commissioners on Tuesday.
The project, which was originally intended for AlleghenyCounty had to go through a rigorous process for funding. The process is reviewed statewide then nationally before money is awarded to a project.
Frankenburg said that after searching for prospective areas for the project, he spoke with Rob Swales, executive director of the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation and came across the proposed sight.
Frankenburg also said that the officials in Pittsburgh were excited about the Clearfield County prospect, and that smaller non-metropolitan areas generally get fewer units for seniors per year due to funding allocation issues.
The proposed sight for the project is in the Professional Office Park on Leonard Street between Colonial Courtyard and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
According to Frankenburg, the building is handicap accessible or adaptable, has a community room, kitchen and laundry facilities. Rent for the single-room apartments would be based on 30 percent of the applicant’s gross income.
Frankenburg said that his group will also speak with local agencies on the subject of running the residential building once it is up and running.
Mark McCracken, Clearfield County Commissioner Chairman looked at the upside, and noted that the proposed sight had potential to bring economic gain to the area with its closeness to the Clearfield Mall and downtown Clearfield
McCracken also noted that there are a number of elderly residents in the county looking for housing to move into.
Even after local approval, the proper paperwork has to go through the federal government for approval.
The commissioners were concerned over the issue of tying up the land for so long until closing. There were also concerns over whether or not the structure would be tax-exempt.
However, Frankenburg said that his group planned with the intent that the project would go through. Frankenburg also said that if all of the paperwork is filed by early Sept., they can look forward to an earlier closing date, possibly in Feb. or March.
Frankenburg also said that the sponsoring agency was federally required to apply for tax-exemption. Whether it would received that status is unclear at this point.
It should be noted that the building was rejected from Penn Hills in Allegheny County due to public opinion, according to Frankenburg.