ST. THOMAS, USVI- Budget cutbacks in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development notwithstanding, the V.I. Housing Authority’s proposal to build more government homes has been approved.
Earlier this week, Robert Graham, executive director of the Housing Authority announced that the Warren E. Brown housing community site will become home to 179 apartments in a two-phase, approximately $56.8 million project.
Housing Authority will collaborate with the local Housing Finance Authority to redevelop the site earmarked for 91 apartments for low and moderate income families, and 88 apartments for the elderly.
Phase 1 will be named Pollyberg South, with 36 units designated for low-income families and 55 units for moderate-income families. Phase 2 or ‘Pollyberg North’ will have two-storey buildings and all apartments would be outfitted with energy-efficient products.
The redevelopment project will be funded by $13.8 million from the HUD and $43 million from the HFA. An additional $7.8 million in HA accumulated funds may also be used for redeveloping the Warren E. Brown site which was damaged by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995.
Graham gave an estimated project start date of 2010, with a construction period of 2 years. He also mentioned that government officials are looking at the possibility of redeveloping the Donoe community housing site.
US Virgin Islands News