The American Baptist Homes of the West was awarded $10.5 million from the U.S. Department of Urban Development to develop senior housing on Bremerton Housing Authority’s Bay Vista site in Bremerton, according to a Wednesday release from HUD.

The 65-unit Bay Vista Senior Apartments will be designated as housing to accommodate seniors 62 years and older who have an annual income that cannot exceed 50 percent of the area median income, said Kurt Wiest, executive director of the Bremerton Housing Authority. Because the housing authority will not be the owner of the new complex, Wiest said he anticipated construction to begin sometime in the next six to nine months.

Eligible residents will pay rent based on their income. Rent will be calculated as 30 percent of the monthly household income, Wiest said.

The senior apartments will accompany other affordable housing units already constructed.

The Firs, a 60-unit facility, was built in 1978 for seniors and the Bay Vista Commons, a 72-unit assisted living structure, was completed in 2007. Earlier this year, The Summit, 83 units of housing was completed as well. Most units of the 69-unit Bay Vista South are complete and occupied with the last few being complete in a few weeks, said Wiest. Construction on Bay Vista West began in September and will be  complete next year.

“It’s one more positive development to make change at the old West Park,” said Wiest of the new senior apartments.

Five other organizations in the state were awarded a grant from the HUD for housing seniors or people with disabilities, totaling $29.8 million. The other units will be built in Colville, Kennewick, Seattle, Spokane and Walla Walla.