TRUCKEE, Calif. andamp;#8212; The Truckee Donner Senior Apartments will undergo a long-awaited overhaul thanks to more than $1 million in loans and donations from the town of Truckee.The town recently received a federal grant of $800,000 and has directed it into a loan toward exterior and interior repairs and retrofitting at the complex, the only affordable senior rental housing building in Truckee and the surrounding region. The townandamp;#8217;s redevelopment agency will also provide $250,000 toward the facelift.The Estates Drive complex consists of 60 one-bedroom units for seniors living on fixed incomes.Property manager Jeffrey Passadore, of Cambridge Real Estate Services, hailed the improvements and loan as imperative steps forward for the apartments; he expects construction to start next summer.andamp;#8220;The residents at the apartment were curious about the timing of the improvement,andamp;#8221; Passadore said. andamp;#8220;That plan will be finalized over the winter.andamp;#8221;Truckee officials said this is the second grant the town has secured for use at the senior apartments. The first purchased a new generator after a leak destroyed the community kitchen where meals were prepared for residents and those using the andamp;#8220;Meals on Wheelsandamp;#8221; senior charity program.The new funds will be used to replace siding, which in some areas is separating from the building. Other repairs include repairing and replacing exterior concrete walkways, exterior painting, replacing hallway carpets and improving building access for individuals with disabilities.andamp;#8220;This apartment complex fills an important housing need in Truckee and is home to many seniors in our community,andamp;#8221; said Town Manager Tony Lashbrook in a statement. andamp;#8220;This is a million dollar investment that will help us to maintain safe affordable housing for our seniors.andamp;#8221;Considering how big competition is for federal funds, Passadore said the town and senior apartments are very fortunate; furthermore, the funds can also be used, he said, for local contracting jobs.andamp;#8220;The town has really accomplished an incredible thing being the recipients for this grant,andamp;#8221; Passadore said.

Lashbrook emphasized in a Monday interview it shouldnandamp;#8217;t be assumed this project is the answer Truckeeandamp;#8217;s need for senior housing facilities.A similar senior housing option, such as the controversial Pollard Station project proposed for the Hilltop area that would bring 136 new housing units into town within its proposed 112,000 square feet, are still on the table for consideration.andamp;#8220;Thereandamp;#8217;s no active (Pollard Station) application currently being processed; however, we expect them to submit it soon,andamp;#8221; Lashbrook said.Truckee Donner Senior Apartments will serve a valuable purpose to the town and for its residents for many years, Lashbrook said; however, as Truckeeandamp;#8217;s population grows, there will inevitably be a need for new senior facilities.