AUBURN, Mass. - A former elementary school building in Auburn is now a mixed-income senior housing development.

The Julia Bancroft Apartments held a grand opening Friday. The building is a 60-unit, mixed-income development for seniors ages 62 and older. It will offer 45 units for residents at or below 60% of the area median income, with the remaining 15 units being market-rate.

"It's a conversion of a vacant school into much needed affordable and market -rate senior housing," said Auburn Town Manager Julie Jacobson. It's putting the tax-exempt back on the tax roll and it's combining a historically significant, historic renovation, as you can see from the facade of the building with the new construction. The thoughtful design and integrated construction really made a difference in the aesthetic of the project."

Four of the affordable apartments have been set aside for community-based housing, a program providing funding for the development of integrated housing for people with disabilities. Seven units are also designated as accessible.

Pennrose, the developer, opened another redevelopment of a school building in Auburn in May.