HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. (WJAC) -- Highland Hall towered empty over the historic district for about 12 years before reopening as a senior living facility Thursday.
Since about 1840, the building has served as a private girls' school, a Franciscan school, a military radio school during World War II and county offices.
At Thursday's ribbon-cutting, Blair County Commissioner Bruce Erb called Walnut Street one of the most beautiful streets in Hollidaysburg.
The street is packed with historic houses and trees, but some called Highland Hall an eyesore until recently.
"They took a blight and made a pretty sight out of it," Hollidaysburg Mayor Joe Dodson said.
S & A Homes, a State College-based developer has restored the nearly 200-year-old property and created a 53-unit senior living center.
Melissa Mitchell said that her mother was the first new resident to move into the building.
"When I lost my dad, I was in a position where I really needed to find some place for my mom, and the lack of affordable senior housing is huge in our area," Mitchell said.
She said that, after her father died of a sudden heart attack, her mother could no long live on her own. She said that other local affordable senior living centers had waiting lists of one to two years.
She calls the opportunity to have affordable housing in Hollidaysburg a blessing.
"It's based on the need for someone with a low income and for people who really struggle. I don't think they could get a more beautiful place to stay," Mitchell said.
According to the developers, the units include one or two bedrooms and are eligible for seniors 62 and older.
Developers describe the center as a limited income restricted rental community. Seniors must earn less than about $32,000 a year.
Funding partners for the project included Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, CREA LLC, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh and S & A Homes, according to a release.
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