AVI STEINHARDT/Courier-Post Construction continues on the new senior citizens' apartment complex along Chestnut Street in Merchantville.

Frank and Claire White, both in their early 80s, are torn between moving to Florida to be close to family or staying in the small borough where they've lived for 46 years.

"We are very comfortable with our security, with the town itself, the way it's run," said Claire White.

The construction of a new senior citizen apartment complex scheduled to open by the end of this year has made their decision more difficult.

"We decided to go on the list, to make that one of the options that might be open to us, but we're not sure what we're doing as far as housing," said Frank White, former chairman of the Merchantville Shade Tree Commission.

The Whites and about 190 senior citizens have requested information on Chestnut Station, a 74-unit, age-restricted apartment complex being built behind the Centre Street business district between Park and Chestnut avenues.

"We're really excited it's moving so quickly," said Mayor Patrick Brennan, who has worked on the project for seven years.

The complex is the only age-restricted apartment complex in the community with a senior citizen population of about 15 percent of its 3,800 residents.

"Many of our seniors are self-sufficient and looking forward to coming into these facilities," said Brennan.

Fred Kohler, community affairs officer for the borough, said there is a list of 190 people waiting for information on the apartments. Fifty-six are Merchantville residents, he said. Requests are from all over South Jersey and as far away as Chicago, he said.

"When the information is available, it will be sent to the people on the list," Kohler said emphasizing that there isn't a waiting list to get into the complex, as yet.

Edith Silberstein said she thinks she's is the first name on that list.

At 84, she doesn't know how much longer she will be able to go up and down stairs in her three-bedroom home where she has lived for 44 years. An apartment, with one-floor living, is what she wants.

The location, within walking distance of banks and stores, and being able to stay close to friends and neighbors makes the complex attractive.

"There are other apartments around that I could move into, but I wouldn't know anyone," Silberstein said.

"If they give you three months' notice, that's enough time to sell a house," Silberstein said.

Construction began in January on the $7.3 million project being built by Conifer Realty of Rochester, N.Y.

Monthly rents are estimated to range from $530 to $950 on a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments.

Income restrictions will apply on 10 low- and 38 moderate-income apartments while the rest will be offered at market value.

The front of the building on the four-acre lot will face South Chestnut and some of the parking will be shared with the businesses on Centre Street.

Mayor Brennan said Merchantville was one of the first communities to designate a redevelopment zone.

Two other properties, the parking lot off Park Avenue behind the stores on Centre Street at the railroad tracks and the abandoned gas station at the corner of Maple and Chapel avenues, have been designated for redevelopment, but no senior citizen housing is planned for either location.