Chesco housing project for veterans moves forward

After two straight years of rejection, a proposed apartment complex for veterans in Chester County has received the tax credits it needs to move forward.

Mission First Housing Group, the project's Philadelphia-based developer, said it plans to break ground at the site of the historic Whitehall Inn in East Vincent Township late this year or early next year.

Construction of the development, which is to have 48 units available for veterans attached to the refurbished inn, is expected to take about a year.

"We were hoping the third time was the charm," said Mark Deitcher, Mission First's director of business development. "And it was."

The 10-year credits from the state toward federal taxes will entice investors to buy into the project, he said.

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency awarded $1.04 million in tax credits to Mission First this month. The selection process is competitive. The agency often does not award the credits the first few times a developer applies, agency officials said.

Several developments worked in the project's favor this time, said Holly Glauser, director of development at the agency.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded rental assistance vouchers for veterans to Mission First for the project. Mission First also made its proposed housing development more energy efficient, which helped the project score higher with the state agency.

"We've always thought this was a quality application serving an important need in Chester County," Glauser said.

The planned housing development on Schuylkill Road in East Vincent will include a new apartment building that will be attached to the Whitehall Inn. The inn will be refurbished and turned into a superintendent's apartment and community space with a kitchen and computer room.

The developer plans to reserve some of the apartments for people with disabilities and households earning up to half the area's median income.

The Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center will help find veterans to live in the apartments and will help qualifying veterans with access to services.

Chester County's latest campaign to house 100 veterans in 100 days ends June 3. Officials said they expect to exceed that goal.

Dale Gravett, executive director of Chester County's housing authority, said county officials were excited the Whitehall Inn project was moving forward.

"It's going to be a big addition to the tools we have in Chester County to house homeless veterans," he said.

610-313-8207@MichaelleBond