The Lycoming Housing Authority is seeking approval from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a plan to continue using the Peter Herdic Apartments as senior housing.

The authority’s board approved submitting a designated housing plan to HUD at its recent monthly meeting.

Approval was received in 2018 to designate the apartment building, located at 505 Center Street, as a senior living building.

“HUD requires us to submit an updated plan to retain this designation” said MeriLyn Serverson, executive director.

“We think it’s an important thing to do.” Pennsylvania is second only to Florida in elderly population growth, and the remaining baby boomers are still getting older. Housing costs are also increasing, so we think this is a worthy cause to pursue. she said.

The Peter Herdic Apartments have amenities seniors can use, she said, such as single-story housing, grab bars and community rooms.

“It’s important that we keep this from them” she said,

Severson noted that there are people in authority-owned subdivisions who are aging in place and will need senior-friendly residences.

The authority had included this intention in its annual and five-year plan and had also provided a comment period on the plan.

The authority will submit the plan to HUD by the end of this month.

Asked about authority housing residents who are aging and whose situations have changed, Severson said sometimes residents are regularly moved to smaller or more senior-friendly apartments.

In other action, council approved the award of a milling and paving contract to Glenn O Hawbaker in the amount of $112,710. Work should begin this fall, depending on the weather.