Housing Authority hosts open meeting

GALVESTON — Residents living near properties proposed as scattered sites for public housing have a chance to voice concerns about the project tonight.

The homes on scattered sites are part of the Galveston Housing Authority’s plan to rebuild 569 public housing units that were flooded in Hurricane Ike and later demolished.

Of the 569 units, housing authority officials have said they want to build single-family or duplex developments at 50 scattered sites.

Unlike traditional public housing developments, the units are scattered in neighborhoods throughout the city to avoid concentrations of poor, but the initiative still has drawn criticism, including worries construction will be delayed.

After tonight’s public hearing, the housing authority could take another few months to close acquisitions of the sites and submit an acquisition proposal to the federal housing department.

The base cost of construction on each unit could cost between $126,000 to $131,000 plus the cost to elevate the property, housing authority officials said.

With construction expected to take between 60 to 90 days, housing authority officials are hoping the homes will be ready for occupancy in August or September.

The housing authority will own the sites and is responsible for maintaining the properties. The units will offer multiple bedrooms and bathrooms for residents.

Multiple bedroom units also are planned in the mixed-income development, which will have a blend of public housing, tax credit and market rate units.

Under the public housing program, residents pay 30 percent of their adjusted monthly income on rent and receive a subsidy for projected electric and water bill expenses.

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Scattered Sites

The following is a list of planned sites in Galveston as part of the Galveston Housing Authority’s plan to rebuild 569 public housing units that were flooded and later demolished after Hurricane Ike in 2008:

• 1717 Bayou Homes Drive

• 2202 71st St.

• 7208 Ann Marie Lane

• 7302 Ave. R

• 2819 Winnie St.

• 1027 63rd St.

• 2910 Ursuline

• 3615 83rd St.

• 6624 Morris

• 7110 Yucca Drive

• 1017 63rd St.

• 72nd Street (Abstract 121, Hall and Jones subdivision, southwest part of lot 23 (23-5) Jones subdivision).

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At A Glance

WHAT: Public hearing about scattered sites

WHEN: 5 p.m. today

WHERE: Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway, in Galveston