Photo by Evan Bevins Prospective residents interact with staff members during an open house at Parkersburg Elderly Housing on Rayon Drive Friday afternoon. Twenty of the 40 units for income-eligible seniors are occupied.

PARKERSBURG — A new 40-unit apartment complex for low-income seniors is filling up fast.

Nineteen people moved into Parkersburg Elderly Housing, built on the former site of Rayon School in south Parkersburg, last week. A 20th was taking up residence Friday afternoon, while more prospective tenants filled out applications during an open house at the three-story facility.

“We’ll be full by the end of today,” said Christa Smith, regional manager with RLJ Management Co., which operates the property with sister company Neighborhood Property Management. “But we also wait list.”

The two-bedroom units are all handicap-accessible or convertible and open to people age 55 and older who qualify based on income, Smith said. A single person must have an annual gross income of $22,500 or less, she said. There is on-site maintenance, secured entry and a community room for events.

The estimated $7 million project was developed by Ohio-based Neighborhood Development Services Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing neighborhoods by increasing home ownership, offering business loans and creating affordable housing.

Photo by Evan Bevins Parkersburg Elderly Housing on Rayon Drive held an open house Friday that drew a number of applicants for its remaining 20 apartments for low-income residents age 55 and older.

Cody Rutherford, development specialist with NDS, said the organization conducts market studies to see where its programs and facilities are needed.

“Parkersburg has a demand for housing, especially elderly housing,” he said.

Parkersburg Development Director Rickie Yeager noted the complex is one of several projects in recent years to address that demand.

“Decent, affordable housing continues to be a need in our community,” he said.

The apartments are in District 1, represented by Parkersburg City Councilman Dave McCrady, who attended the open house and said the facility is a welcome addition.

Photo by Evan Bevins From left, Parkersburg Elderly Housing property manager Kim White, Neighborhood Development Services Inc. development specialist Cody Rutherford and RLJ Management Co. regional manager Christa Smith talk in one of the apartments at Parkersburg Elderly Housing on Rayon Drive during an open house Friday.

“I’ve run across a couple people that’s getting (in) here because everything’s on one level,” he said, noting some people prefer not to have stairs to climb as they age.

More than two dozen people had signed in at the open house as of 2 p.m.

In 2017, Parkersburg City Council voted to allocate $100,000 in federal HOME funds to the project to assist with the development of affordable housing; however, the funds were not used.

“Due to timing issues, the developer decided to move forward without utilizing the funds,” Yeager said.

Photo by Evan Bevins Robbie Thompson, left, social services director for the Willows Center, speaks with Parkersburg Elderly Housing property manager Kim White in an apartment at the recently opened senior housing complex during an open house Friday. Thompson said she wanted to learn more about the facility for clients.