Bids for the proposed Palmer House apartment for the elderly in Palmerton were opened yesterday during a special meeting of the Carbon County Housing Authority.

The cost of the project on Delaware Avenue will be about $1.6 million. Palmer House will be a renovation of two vacant buildings — the former Palm Theatre and the former Palmerton Post Office.

The project will be underwritten by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, resulting in the new complex having 50 apartments, including 28 efficiencies, 19 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments.