Lower Merion Township won a statewide award for turning a municipal parking lot in Ardmore into 48 units of affordable senior housing.
The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners (PSATC) gave Lower Merion its Smart Growth, Zoning & Land Use Innovation Award for the Ardmore House II project, Mainline Media News reported. The honor was part of the association's first-ever Impact Awards, presented at its annual dinner. Lower Merion was one of four townships recognized.
The four-story building at 55 Ardmore Ave. is a partnership between the township, Genesis Housing Corp. and HumanGood East. It provides housing for seniors earning between 20% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The building includes six ADA-accessible units and two units for residents with hearing and vision impairments.
The financing structure drew on multiple public sources. The project secured roughly $13.2 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), according to a PSATC press release. Montgomery County contributed $5 million, and the township put in $1.7 million. Lower Merion retained ownership of the land through a long-term ground lease, while the development partner took on construction and maintenance.
The PSATC press release described the project as a way to deliver community benefit from a municipal asset without buying additional land or taking on long-term operating costs.
Jeremiah Woodring, vice president of the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners, accepted the award and spoke about it at recent committee meetings. He credited township employees and partners for years of planning and coordination, saying the project took persistent effort at every stage.
"I'm a mere courier, and look forward to bringing this award home to the staff," Woodring said.
PSATC Vice President Liz McNaney said the awards are meant to highlight what member townships across the state have accomplished and to give commissioners new ideas to bring back to their own communities, according to Mainline Media News.
Construction on Ardmore House II is expected to finish by winter 2026, according to AffordableHousing.com. The development will serve seniors 62 and older.
