UMBRELLA WORKS

LANCASTER, PA

Umbrella Works Apartments is located on the site of a former umbrella factory. The building was renovated as an affordable rental community located on West King Street in downtown Lancaster City on East King Street, within walking distance to everything the vibrant city of Lancaster has to offer. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and individuals living in the Lancaster area. Residents benefit from several community amenities, including an on-site day care center, laundry facilities, community room, outdoor patio area, play lot, and on-site professional management. This property was made possible by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit).

Learn about a resident of Umbrella Works below and see more about the property here. Property information, resident interview, and photographs are courtesy of HDC MidAtlantic.

ROSANNE’S STORY

Rosanne, a former elementary school teacher, nurse, and writer, has lived at Umbrella Works in Lancaster for six years. Before moving to the community, it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to access her upstairs apartment using her walker. Umbrella Works has provided her with an accessible home where she can age in place. Hear about Rosanne’s experience living in Umbrella Works in her own words below: 

I have lived here for six years. I was living over Shivery Funeral Home in Paradise. I was walking with a walker, and one day I realized I needed something better for my condition. I had 17 steps to go up. That’s a problem when you’re slowly losing your mobility. I was frustrated, and I thought I didn’t want to live in the city, but then I started to look at there was nowhere to move in Paradise. So a friend called and said let me look on Craig’s List. She called me late at night and said I think I found you a sublet. Call the manager tomorrow, so I did that. Lilly Torres sent me an application. That Sunday I filled it out and I turned it in on Monday. At 3:30 p.m. that day I got a call to see if I wanted to look at the unit. I opened that door and I said, “This is mine.” I signed the papers and moved in on my 80th birthday.

 

I am in a disabled unit. All the cabinets are lowered. I have a walk-in shower. I liked how wide my front door and bedroom door are. I said wow, if I am in a wheelchair, I don’t need to have anyone putzing around. That takes care of that problem. I like that Lilly Torres always follows through. I like that everything is here if anything critical happens. I can still go get my mail. I can play bingo. I can do my laundry. When I have a maintenance problem, they’re here. What do I have to worry about?

 

I taught elementary education for 10 years and then became a nurse at 42. I published my first book in 2003, and that took off in 2004. I taught 4th grade for the Air Force. I’m 86 years old, and I baffle people. I go up to Annie Baileys for dinner once or twice a week. I walk everywhere. I don’t have a car. I go to church. I’m busy all the time. People ask, how do you keep going? I’m a get up and go person. I don’t have a cleaning lady. I don’t have Meals on Wheels. That’s the way I like to go. I’m not eccentric. I’m unique.