Affordable housing complex in South Annville Twp. holds dedication ceremony

Carmany Place Apartments, a new affordable housing complex on Mount Pleasant Road in Annville, held a dedication ceremony on Nov. 5, allowing guests to tour some of the housing options.

The complex offers two- and three-bedroom homes with rent ranging from $299 to $1,559, according to Apartments.com. Eligibility is determined through an application and screening process.

The complex includes three two-story walk-up apartment buildings and a clubhouse. Each building has 10 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units, totaling 48 apartments.

Read More: Groundbreaking held for affordable housing project in S. Annville Township

Matt Padron, managing director of development at Völker Development and lead developer on this $18.6-million project, said he saw the buildings come together from the first steps of construction to speaking with a family moving in the week before the dedication.

“I have certainly spoken with residents of properties I’ve helped develop over the years, but this was the first time I’ve been on-site as residents, in this case, a young family … join our community, and it was really a remarkable experience,” Padron said.

He said it was “wonderfully satisfying” to see the units finally come together with a family making themselves at home.

The land in South Annville Township was owned by Tom Carmany, who was from Lebanon County before moving to New Mexico to practice medicine.

“I used to pray that someday I would come back to Pennsylvania, and I would have a farmhouse and a barn, and I don’t know why I wanted a barn because it’s been a liability,” Carmany said. “But I got the farm and I got the land.”

He said affordable housing available in Fredericksburg inspired him to do something more with his acreage. Carmany’s connection to New Mexico’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program further urged him on. He said his younger brother through the program, now 47 years old and living in California, was one of four sons to a widowed mother who moved the family from trailer to trailer and house to house.

“At that time, I decided this is what we need to use this land for. We need to have affordable housing here,” Carmany said. “If you look around at all the development, it’s very much unaffordable housing for many people — they couldn’t begin to find a place like this.”

Utilities included are water, trash removal, and sewer. Apartments have a washer and dryer, air conditioning and heating, and a kitchen with appliances. There are community amenities such as a fitness center and a playground, the latter of which Padron said is already being utilized by some of the complex’s families.

Robin Wiessmann with PA Housing Finance Agency highlighted how many different financers went into making the project possible. Of the $18.6 million, she said $17.5 million came from public entities — a loan from PHFA, funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, PA Housing Tax Credits, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

Wiessmann said housing affordability is a bipartisan issue, with both sides recognizing that change is needed. Carmany Place Apartments, she said, is a high-quality place for people to live.

“This isn’t just about the buildings, it is about building a community and to have the opportunity to live with dignity and live in a really nice space,” Wiessmann said. “This is about affording people to actualize a really, really good quality of life.”