UNCDC Breaks Ground on Bucktown Center

United Neighborhood Community Development Corporation (UNCDC), the nonprofit housing and economic development subsidiary of United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania (UNC), held a break grounding ceremony on a new 40-unit senior apartment community on Friday, March 15, 2024, at 3pm. The newly constructed, four-story apartment building, spanning approximately 46,000 square feet, will be situated at 222 East Drinker Street, at the corner of South Apple Street, in the heart of Dunmore. Known as Bucktown Center, this development aims to address the critical need for quality affordable housing for individuals aged 62 and above in Northeastern Pennsylvania, while also providing brand-new, desirable commercial space.

The event honored developer Robert C. Grimm of Grimm Construction for his longstanding support of UNC and UNCDC. Speakers included Lisa Durkin, UNC President and CEO; Jude McDonough, UNC Board Chair; Brian Redmond, Vice President of PNC Real Estate; Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich; State Senator Marty Flynn, 22nd Senatorial District; State Representative Kyle Mullins, 112th District; Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan; Dunmore Mayor Max Conway.

In addition to the UNCDC, the development team consists of Karen Welsh, R.A., AIA, from UpStreet Architects as the project architect; Jude Cooney from A+E Group as the civil engineer; Robert C. Grimm of Grimm Construction as the general contractor; Atty. Mark Cohen of Askot, Weiner & Cohen, LLP; and Atty. James Hailstone and Atty. David K. Brown of Kreder Brooks Hailstone, LLP.

The $19 million Bucktown Center project is funded through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program managed by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), Federal HOME funds, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Lackawanna County, and PNC Bank.

Pictured below: James Caffrey, UNCDC Board Chair; Jude McDonough, UNC Board Chair; State Senator Marty Flynn, 22nd Senatorial District; Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich; Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak; State Representative Kyle Mullins, 112th District; Lisa Durkin, UNC President and CEO; Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan; Dunmore Mayor Max Conway; Robert C. Grimm, Grimm Construction; Michael Kelly, President of Senior Health Care Solutions, LLC, and Martin Fotta, UNC Chief Operating Officer.

Click here to watch the WNEP clip.

Click here to watch the FOX 56 clip.

Click to here read the Pennsylvania Pressroom article.