A new affordable housing community is providing the region’s growing senior citizen population with more independent living options. Located along the 700 block of Second Ave. in Brackenridge and Tarentum, Dalton’s Edge features 120 affordable apartments. Co-developed by the Allegheny County Housing Authority and TREK Development Group, Dalton’s Edge is situated a mile-and-a-half from Tarentum’s central business district and five miles north of Pittsburgh Mills.
Designed by Lami Grubb Architects, the $20 million project features a 13, 240 square-foot LIFE Center. The fully equipped medical facility houses physician offices, physical therapy areas, and a hair styling facility. Constructed on the site of a former glass factory, the three-story project also includes an on-site senior center, which offers social services, community and recreation activities and computer access.
The project, which received a Growing Greener grant, features green roofs and geothermal heating and cooling. “We’re one of the first senior housing in the country to use the geothermal concept—that’s a tremendous savings on gas and electric,” says Frank Aggazio with Allegheny County. “We’ve increased our capacity as far as elderly units, and we’d like to continue in the future. There’s definitely a need. We probably have the second oldest county in the country. It’s served very well with the addition of this complex.”
Project funders include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Allegheny County Economic Development, PNC Multifamily Capital, PNC Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Contractor was Guardian Construction.
“To be able to live independently and access services at the same location keeps people living longer and enhances quality of life,” adds Aggazio, who says the project has a waiting list.
Source: Pop City Media