A $6.2 million affordable housing development broke ground in Upper Merion Township on May 28, bringing 20 units to the grounds of Valley Forge Presbyterian Church in King of Prussia. The publicly funded project — supported by county grants, state housing agency funds and federal COVID-19 relief dollars — will include 17 studio or one-bedroom apartments and three two-bedroom units, with rents ranging from roughly $952 to $1,501 per month. Four units will be reserved for referrals from Montgomery County programs. The project, nearly eight years in the making, was driven by the church's small congregation and Pastor Tim Dooner, who championed it as a way to address the region's affordable housing crisis. Local officials noted the acute need, pointing out that nearly half of county renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, the average Montgomery County rent exceeds $2,000 a month, and many workers employed by the area's major employers can't afford to live there. Construction is expected to take eight to 10 months.
Source: The Reporter; 5/29/2026