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Aster Place
Manheim Township, Pennsylvania

Aster Place provides affordable family housing in a previously underserved area.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, sandwiched between the Philadelphia metropolitan area and the state capital of Harrisburg, has long been thought of as "Amish" or "Pennsylvania Dutch" country, and indeed, tourism is a major source of revenue for the county. However, Lancaster County has a diversified economy and experienced significant employment growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Throughout the 1980s, little affordable family housing was built in the suburban areas of the county (outside the City of Lancaster). In 1992, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Lancaster County and Housing Development Corporation, an experienced local nonprofit, began exploring the possibility of building affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in Manheim Township, the county's most affluent community.

After acquiring an appropriate site, Housing Development Corporation, the developer, began a long discourse with local officials on the need for affordable family housing and actively involved those officials in the planning process. The project ultimately required 13 planning ordinance exceptions and variances as well as a rezoning. The result was the development of 66 two- and three-bedroom rental units, all of which are affordable to families at 50 to 60 percent of the county median income. The project was completed in January 1995; it has had a waiting list and positive cash flow since initial lease-up.

The initial funding commitment for Aster Place was a $662,000 loan of HOME funds from the Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority (under the auspices of the Lancaster County Commissioners). This commitment demonstrated to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) that the project had local support, contributing greatly to the approval of primary and secondary financing by PHFA.

Aster Place was marketed through various county social and human service agencies and the redevelopment authority. Twenty-two of the 66 units are occupied by families with Section 8 certificates or vouchers. The monthly rents range from $419 for a two-bedroom unit designed for a family at 50 percent of median income to $585 for a three-bedroom unit for a family at 60 percent of median income. These rents are approximately $100 less than market-rate rents.

An exceptional aspect of Aster Place is the Supportive Service Program, which was instituted by Housing Development Corporation and is intended to assist residents in achieving stability. Following an interview and needs assessment for each resident household, the property manager, in conjunction with local social service agencies and others, develops needed programs for residents, such as budgeting, substance abuse treatment, life skills, or health programs. The programs are usually conducted in the on-site community building.