Hickman LIHTC

The Hickman – Nathaniel Hickman House

The Nathaniel Hickman House is the gut rehabilitation of the historic Hickman building at 400 N. Walnut Street in the heart of downtown West Chester. Built in 1936 as a boarding house for seniors, the building has long served as an anchor for older adults in the community. This redevelopment preserves the building’s historic exterior while completely renovating the interior to create 32 new affordable apartments for low- and moderate-income seniors ages 62 and older. The new design includes larger efficiency, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 435–802 square feet, each with a full kitchen, dining area, living room, and bathroom. Six of the apartments will be fully ADA accessible and reserved for seniors with physical disabilities, and all units are adaptable and visitable so residents can age safely in place. All apartments will be available to residents earning at or below 60% of AMI.

The project scope also includes installation of central air conditioning, Energy Star appliances, and other high-quality, energy-efficient finishes. A new community room with a kitchen overlooks an existing courtyard and patio to encourage social connection among residents. As a Licensed Personal Care Home, The Hickman provides on-site service coordination and supportive services that enable seniors to age in place with dignity, care, and compassion. Residents of Nathaniel Hickman House also benefit from direct access to the adjacent Anna T. Jeanes building and the Mary Taylor House—connected via an underground walkway—which together form a comprehensive senior living campus offering fitness space, laundry facilities, and a range of supportive services and programming.

Founded by Quakers in 1891, The Hickman has decades of experience providing housing and supportive services to older adults with low and moderate incomes. The organization’s evolution from a home for low-income older women to a diverse personal care community reflects its commitment to individualized attention and aging in place. As the Local Lead Agency for Chester County, the Department of Community Development will also support the project by helping identify income-qualified applicants and seniors with accessibility needs, ensuring the property serves those most in need.

Stone Sherick Consulting Group Role
Stone Sherick Consulting Group is preparing a financial feasibility report for The Hickman that analyzes and identifies the maximum public funding available for the project. The report includes a development budget with sources and uses, operating budget, funding timelines, estimates of predevelopment costs, and preliminary scoring of a potential tax credit application. SSCG’s guidance positions The Hickman to secure financing and advance the redevelopment successfully.