After 30-plus years of being vacant, the former Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Co. administrative building may be used again.

A development firm is interested in turning the building into an apartment complex for senior citizens.

The city received a letter from the Woda Group of Westerville, Ohio, indicating that it hopes to buy and renovate the building at 651 Hansen Ave.

David Cooper, principal of the firm, confirmed the developer's interest in the property, but said the potential project is in the “very early stages.”

“All I can really say right now is we're looking to develop it as senior apartments,” he said. “And we would do it as a historic renovation.”

The 48,000 square-foot building is owned by Sumner McDanel of Penn Township, according to county records. It is listed for sale through Achieve Real Estate for $875,000, according to the agency's website.

McDanel could not be reached by phone for comment.

Cooper said his firm has an option to buy the building but did not elaborate.

City councilwoman Cheri Readie said she and Butler County's commissioners-elect met with representatives from the firm Thursday to discuss the project.

Readie said the developer is looking at a multimillion dollar project, but is only in the “information gathering phase.”

The new apartment complex will be subsidized housing for those 62-years old and older, Readie said. She said the property would be privately owned and taxable.

The Woda Group's letter to the city asks for a change to its zoning ordinance that allow multifamily dwellings in the C-2 Zoning District. City council Thursday recommended the change to the city's planning and zoning commission.

The office building is believed to have been built before 1911, based on historical records. It was the administration building for Pullman-Standard until the freight car manufacturing company closed in February 1982.

It has since been vacant.