WCHA’s Grand View Senior Residences Progressing

Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) is preparing the groundwork for construction later this year of its newest apartment building for low-income seniors in Norwin area – Grand View Senior Residences.

With completion expected early in 2024, the building will feature fifty (50) apartments, forty-six (46) one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units, for residents aged 62 and older, including eight set aside preference for veterans; six fully accessible, and one for the hearing-vision impaired.

It will be the authority’s third new construction project in the last decade, joining South Greengate Commons in Hempfield Township, which opened in 2013, and its adjoining sister facility, Odin View Apartments, which was completed 2020. Both facilities represent 92 units of affordable senior 62+ housing.

“Our senior population continues to grow and we as an authority have made it a priority to build new facilities. These projects are critical to provide expanded opportunities for seniors to have quality places to live within Westmoreland County,” said Michael L. Washowich, Executive Director.

All of the units will be visitable with an “age-in-place philosophy” – allowing seniors to continue to lead productive independent lives.

In addition to the spacious apartments, the building’s amenities will include first floor a Community Room with an additional kitchen area, a connecting porch of similar scale, centrally located common space screened-in porches on two to four floors, four laundry rooms, individual resident storage units on each floor and a dog washroom.

The ground-floor amenities offer engaging community space that connects to the exterior through patios and outdoor program areas promoting a healthy active lifestyle including a concrete walking trail, community gardening space, and a fenced play area for dogs.

Located off Laurel Avenue, directly behind Norwin Public Library, Grand View has received wide support from state, county and local government officials.

“Grand View Senior Residences will serve as the home for county seniors for years to come,” said Washowich.

Grand View Senior Residences’ location offers convenient access to community amenities as it is near the Route 30 corridor. The Grand View site will include public transportation, easy access to health and retail stores, home health agencies and medical facilities.

A partnership with the Westmoreland County Veterans Association (WVA), as the lead agency, has the collaborative capacity to serve the targeted Supportive Housing Veteran population.

Veteran-specific services will be provided by the WVA, such as applying for entitlements, referrals for benefits, providing grave markers, housebound aid and attendance, disability/widows pension guidance, outreach and identification of service-connected disability.

For services that require transportation, the WVA administers the DAV shuttle which provides free transport to both Pittsburgh VA hospitals. The nearest Veterans of Foreign Wars post is located less than two miles west.

The Supportive Services Program, available to all residents, will provide a variety of outreach to address educational and financial limitations, maintain health and independence, promote access to services and socialization while promoting the ability to maintain the highest possible levels of function, participation and dignity in the community.

For more information, visit wchaonline.com