WATER STREET — Local developer Jeff Long is in the midst of constructing the first single-family home development for Graystone, off Route 45, one mile north of Water Street in Morris Township, Huntingdon County.

Graystone Cottage Community is an extension of his 55-plus apartments. The cottage homes are for people who are not quite ready for an apartment but can’t take care of the property.

“It is good for them, no snow plowing and mowing grass. It is a lot like living in an apartment but you have your own home,” Long said. “We knew there would be a demand for the senior cottage homes.”

Long has owned the property since 2008. In 2010, ground was broken by another company for a 31-lot single family residential subdivision.

“Only one house was built. It didn’t pan out,” Long said.

In May 2019, Long submitted plans to the Huntingdon County Planning Commission to turn that project into an adult living community cottage land development project that would include 81 cottages and a clubhouse in the area of the 31 original lots. The project included merging the 31 lots back into a single parcel, with this parcel being owned by Long with the cottages being rented.

Long started construction in 2021, and if all goes as planned, the project will be completed in late 2023.

At this point, more than 50 have been rented and 33 are completed.

Each 1,600-square-foot home features an open floor plan with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two car garage and a large front and back porch.

“They are high-end modular homes. Right now you can pick your siding color and color of countertops. All are exactly the same house, the only difference is the color,” Long said.

The community also provides tenants with a common gathering space called Sage Creek Lodge. There, tenants will be able to enjoy the fitness center and common areas for game nights, activities and larger group gatherings. The Sage Creek Lodge will also be open to the public.

“It is under roof; it is three quarters done. It will be a clubhouse for the residents and be used for things like weddings and dinners and other functions,” Long said.

The $1,800 month rent includes water, sewer, cable TV, mowing, garbage, snow removal and maintenance.

Long’s project has been well received.

“I would never have thought we would have that many rented that quick. It is a nice central location, it feels like you are out in the country but it is close to Huntingdon, Altoona and State College. We have several snowbirds who stay in the summer and go to Florida for the winter. It is just an extension of our Graystone apartments,” Long said.

“It will help our tax revenue. It is for 55 and over, there is a need for that right now. It took a long time to get it up and running, but it is coming together well and will be a nice facility when it is completed,”‘ said Morris Township Supervisor Donald Harnish.

Meanwhile, the Blair County Planning Commission recently reviewed Long’s plans for the Matterns Woods subdivision, located along Robertdale Drive, Peachdale Lane and Newry Lane in Blair Township.

The proposal is for the subdivision of a 21.424 acre parcel into a 14-lot single-family residential subdivision.

Long said he isn’t sure if he will proceed with that project.

“It is still up in the air, it may be another Graystone (apartment building), we are not sure of the plans. The demand for the apartments is so strong. We hope to decide soon. It takes about a year to get all of the approvals. If we do a Graystone, we would have to start all over again with approvals and reviews,” Long said.

Long has built and continues to operate 15 Graystone Court and Graystone Court Villas apartment complexes for those age 55 and older across Blair, Bedford, Cambria, Clearfield, Centre, Huntingdon and Jefferson counties. He also has three personal care homes in Altoona (part of Grande Palazzo), Huntingdon and Bellmeade Manor.

“We are also building a Graystone apartment building and 18 cottage homes at the site of Philipsburg Hospital,” Long said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.