Jeff Long Construction announced this week that the highly anticipated redevelopment of the former Penn Central Building, an historic anchor building in downtown Altoona, is now underway.
“I’m happy to share that construction is officially beginning on the historic Penn Central Building, soon to be known as Graystone Metro! This space will be transformed into 30 brand-new apartments for all ages,” said Jeff Long. “We’ve heard your requests for quality housing options for those under 55, and we’re thrilled to finally make it happen. These apartments will also feature private parking, adding extra convenience for our future residents,” Long added.
Long’s construction portfolio primarily includes major housing developments and support services for residents over the age of 55. This project represents a new approach into a general residential marketplace.
“Jeff is a leader in our regional housing space with not just a proven track record of success, but one that is transformative in both the quality of the product and the impact on surrounding neighborhoods,” said Stephen McKnight, Altoona Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD) President and CEO. “We are pleased to help support this adaptive reuse project, along with the city and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Transformative projects at this scale are difficult and expensive to pull off, so it is critical we have programs and tools to create public-private partnerships for projects like this,” McKnight added.
ABCD will be participating in the project through internal loan funds and the Enterprise Zone Loan Program. The project is eligible for additional loan funding and tax credits through DCED’s Mainstreet Matters and the PA Enterprise Zone Tax Program. “Together with Jeff’s significant direct investment, these programs help with overall construction costs to make the project happen,” McKnight said.
The Penn Central Building has been vacant for more than a decade now. The building’s location along the 11th Avenue corridor makes is a critical part of the avenue’s overall redevelopment efforts that have been under since the late 1990s. It is anticipated that this project will be completed in late summer of 2027. The building will offer a combination of 30 total units consisting of both one and two-bedroom apartments along with 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor.
About Jeff Long Construction
Jeff Long Construction, an Altoona-based company started by Jeff S. Long in 1980, specializes in residential and commercial construction, particularly senior living communities and apartment complexes. The company has evolved from building single-family homes in subdivisions to large-scale commercial and residential developments.
About ABCD Corporation
The Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD) is a private non-profit 501(c)3 certified economic development corporation. We work as a catalyst for business expansion in Blair County, Pennsylvania and through regional partnerships. ABCD manages several State loan and tax credit programs to include the PIDA program. Since our founding in 1946 ABCD has facilitated over 2,000 projects reflecting more than $2 billion in total project costs and the creation/retention of thousands of jobs.
