Developers are setting their sights on Greenville, PA for some upcoming projects.

The old school building on the corner of N. High Street and W. Main Street hasn't been used in 20 years. Now, developers are flipping it into apartments for seniors ages 62 and older. 

It will have 41 units including one and two bedroom options. It will also have rooms for activities, wellness programs and equipment and continuing education services.

“We have a lot of senior residents in our area and there is a need for affordable housing,” Jasson Urey, the Greenville town manager said. 

Hudson Companies will restore the original building that dates back to the 1800’s. The first floor will have spaces for commercial businesses.

“I am extremely excited about the growth that is coming to town and the growth that we’re still working on bringing,” Paul Hamill, the Mayor of Greenville, told 21 News. “Anytime that we can have new development and growth in a community is always a good thing.”

The developers will add onto the existing structure by building on the empty land that used to be the schools yard. 

“There just really hasn't been a concerted effort towards housing in Mercer County probably in the last 25 to 30 years so I think all of our communities in the county have agreed this is a soft spot ” Rod Wilt, Executive Director of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation said. 

Developers are also setting their sights on revamping other buildings in the town. An unnamed company is planning on building apartments on top of the businesses on Main Street - preserving the commercial component of downtown and hopefully bringing in a new demographic. 

“We believe that those [Thiel College] graduate students or even some of the younger populations there are looking to live in more of an urban environment,” Urey said. 

“The walk ability, that's something that I think young people are really looking for,” Wilt said. “They like living and being able to walk up and down Main Street, go to restaurants, go to some bars and just have that small town feel.”

Wilt believes it best to flip the old business model on its head and first attract the people to the area to start growth.

“Now you almost have to build the community and business will locate there,” Wilt said.  

“It helps grow what is needed in our downtown corridor,” Urey said about bringing a younger crowd in. “Right now, we just have a mix of a lot of different things and there’s not really a focus … if you have a younger crowd then those types of business establishments would then look to open.” 

All in hopes of making Greenville and Mercer County the place to be.