Another project is in the works that adds to a growing list of efforts to transform Charleston buildings into downtown housing.

The latest one will cater to senior citizens. It's the former YWCA building on Quarrier Street.

"We are so thrilled that they're not tearing it down," YWCA Charleston CEO Debby Weinstein said.

Instead, contractors will be adding onto the building to create 44 units of affordable housing for seniors in the capital city.

Weinstein said many women have lived in the building in its 100-year history.

"The YW built that building and it was housing for young women who were coming to Charleston to look for work, because in the rural areas, there really weren't opportunities for women," Weinstein said.

Earlier this week, the Kanawha County Commission approved Pison Development's request to freeze taxes on the building. Charleston Urban Renewal Authority's director, Ron Butlin, said affordable housing will be a good addition to the downtown area.

"The county's getting zero taxes right now, and Pison has agreed to have the building assessed at market value and pay taxes at a flat rate for the next 10 years," Butlin said. "That's a win-win. It helps Pison get the deal done and it puts this asset back on the tax rolls for the future."

The YWCA building joins a list of older buildings in the downtown Charleston area that are being turned into housing.

The former Huntington bank building is currently being renovated to become luxury apartments and condos called "900 on Lee."

People are already living in the Atlas building lofts. Along the same street, the building that housed the former Food Among the Flowers is expected to become a retail and housing space.

Butlin said more housing means more foot traffic, and that's good for business.

"That creates more demand, and then you have more demand for coffee shops and more demand for food services," Butlin explained. "In this case, I think there's an opportunity for seniors. It gets them into an area where services are close by."

There's no set timeline on when construction will get started, but Weinstein said the YWCA is expected to close the deal with Pison Development very soon.

Eyewitness News reached out to Pison Development for comment, but did not hear back.