Saint Joseph Place, the new 50-apartment housing community for seniors, opened Monday in the historic St. Joseph’s Elementary School in Collingdale, which closed in 2010, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.

The new affordable community for independent seniors, developed by the Catholic Housing and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, received a warm welcome from county, state, and federal officials, and an official blessing from Archbishop Nelson J. Perez.

“This is the type of thing that happens when the church and the state come together,” said Pérez.

In May 2018, St. Joseph’s parish was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The new facility preserves the historic construction of the school, which Perez described as “vital to the fabric of this neighborhood”.

The $20 million housing project included $750,000 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds and a HUD rental subsidy for 21 of the 50 units.

Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor said the facility will serve residents over the age of 62 that may need housing assistance.

Rents will vary with the subsidized HUD units at 30 percent of the renter’s income.

Read more about the opening of senior housing at the former St. Joseph’s Elementary School in the Daily Times.