A Place for Family and Community: The Azzaras’ Legacy on Park Avenue

As part of SCCLT’s growing middle-income homeownership program, Wendy and Dan Azzara’s Park Avenue home will soon welcome a new family — one that might not otherwise afford to live in the community where they work. The Azzaras’ decision to sell their beloved home to SCCLT reflects a shared belief that homes are more than investments in property — they’re investments in people, neighborhoods, and a thriving, inclusive State College.

“Our house has felt like a feathered nest. For us and the many families and friends who have lived under its roof, it has been cozy, warm, inclusive, loving, and welcoming.”

For more than two decades, Wendy and Dan Azzara have enjoyed this home in East College Heights. It was a second home that allowed them to stay close to family, the university, and friends. As they recently sold the property to the State College Community Land Trust, they took time to reflect on its history, the memories built there, and their hopes for the next family, who will call it home.

The house, built in 1933 of native stone and designed by local architect Clarence M. Bauchspies, was one of three matching side-by-side homes constructed as part of an effort to “improve” the neighborhood. When first sold, the home cost under $6,000 — a modest start to what would become a cherished gathering place for family and friends.

Since buying the home in 2003, and as the 5th owners, Wendy and Dan have watched it — and the neighborhood — grow and flourish. The great shade tree in the front yard and the wall of rhododendrons in the back have expanded over the years, echoing the natural beauty around them. They remember looking north and seeing the “Witness Tree,” the first tree planted at what is now the 370-acre Arboretum at Penn State, which still stands proudly across from the Children’s Gate.

Wendy fondly recalls standing outside with their neighbor, Mary Ellen Kean, watching the Arboretum take shape. “We hope whoever ends up in the house takes advantage of walking the Arboretum paths and trails from Sunset Park,” she said.

The home has also grown with their family. It has hosted reunions, celebrations, and the kind of spontaneous joy that becomes family lore — like a family reunion game of musical chairs in the driveway, full of laughter and friendly competition.

Community has always been at the heart of the Azzaras’ lives. Penn State — particularly the College of Agricultural Sciences — has been an anchor for their family. Wendy, a former teacher at State High, remains connected to her community of educators. For the last 10 years, Wendy and Dan have rented their house to friends who were transitioning to a permanent residence. All of these renters have enjoyed living in the house with its close proximity to the campus and town.

“I first learned about SCCLT through 100+ Women Who Care, a local giving circle whose mission is to collectively support Centre County nonprofit organizations,” Wendy said. “The first time I remember hearing about the Land Trust was at a meeting when one of our members shared and won the Impact Award for GreenBuild. SCCLT received support from our organization again, several years later, for the University Drive Passive House Duplex Retrofit Project.” 

For Dan, selling to SCCLT was about honoring both the value and values of their investment. “When you buy a home, it’s an investment — but working with SCCLT it becomes an investment in people and community,” he said. “There’s a financial return, of course, but also a return in knowing you’re helping someone else build a life here. If you want to give back to our community, then selling your home to the Land Trust is a perfect opportunity.”

As they pass their Park Avenue “feathered nest” to its next stewards, Wendy hopes the house continues to radiate the warmth and welcome they’ve always felt within it. “I imagine pumpkins and flowers on the porch in fall, open windows on beautiful days, and a sense of love and life emanating from the home,” she said.

Through their decision to sell to SCCLT, Wendy and Dan have ensured that their home — now a long-term investment in community — will now help another many more families put down roots and grow.