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Ferguson supervisors pledge support as county land trust seeks to preserve 49 Sylvan View affordable units
Summary
County housing officials asked Ferguson Township for help covering soft costs to preserve 49 formerly LIHTC rental homes in Sylvan View Estates. The board directed the manager to send a letter committing support in principle, without earmarking funds, while asking for further details and intermunicipal coordination.
Representatives of the Center County Housing and Land Trust and a College Township official told Ferguson Township’s board that a buyer is interested in preserving 49 rental units at Sylvan View Estates after the development’s 30‑year low‑income housing tax credit affordability period ended.
The land trust asked municipalities for contributions to cover ‘‘soft costs’’—appraisals, legal fees and application preparation—so a buyer could assemble a Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) FAIR application to secure rehabilitation and extended income restrictions. The land trust emphasized that keeping the units affordable would prevent a large loss of workforce housing in the region.
Board members and staff expressed support for preserving affordable units but debated funding risk and timing. Several supervisors urged caution about allocating township funds before specifics (amount, MOU, binding commitments and timing) were available. The manager and land trust representatives said the FAIR application cycle typically takes months and that the developer likely would apply in a future funding round.
Rather than committing money immediately, the board directed the township manager to send a letter indicating municipal support for the land trust’s effort and an intention to consider funding if and when precise financial requests and supporting documentation are presented. The manager said any eventual allocation would likely come from the workforce housing fee‑in‑lieu fund and would be subject to board criteria and the fund’s availability.
Center County Housing and Land Trust representatives said the requested funds would be contingent on the project moving forward; if the application or acquisition failed, committed funds would be returned or not released. The manager and several supervisors asked the land trust to return with clearer cost estimates and a proposed allocation schedule.
