Public housing to get $4m in capital funding

North country public housing authorities will receive more than $4 million in capital improvement funds as part of the federal government's $787 billion economic stimulus package.

Local officials said the funds will help cover the cost of projects already identified as priorities for their agencies.

The federal funding is a part of $4 billion to be divided among public housing authorities throughout the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. About $3 billion will be allocated for specific grants from the Office of Capital Improvements, while $1 billion will be released through an as-yet unspecified competitive grants program.

To be eligible, housing authorities must meet specific requirements, including use of the capital fund grants to supplement rather than replace expenditures from other sources. Authorities must also give priority to the rehabilitation of vacant rental units.

WATERTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Watertown Housing Authority will receive the largest local sum, $1,396,472, to come from the Office of Capital Improvements, according to Michael C. Robare, agency executive director.

He said the money will help the housing authority tackle its long list of improvements.

"Pretty much, East Hills will take the majority," he said.

The family housing complex buildings, near Ohio Street, will eventually have new siding, interior improvements as well as some site work, Mr. Robare said.

A portion of the federal stimulus funds may also be used to repair the elevator at LeRay Street apartments, 847 LeRay St., installing security equipment and software at all sites, as well as installing windows at Meadowbrook Apartments, a family housing complex off Burns and Walker Avenue.

"We're trying to give it a whole new look," Mr. Robare said.

He said he knows the agency needs to address other priorities such as Maywood Terrace, which has experienced structural deterioration. The housing authority is continuing to work on a plan for that family housing complex.

OGDENSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Ogdensburg Housing Authority, which has 386 units in three high-rises and one family complex, will receive $694,531 for capital improvements from the $3 billion allocation, according to William J. Seymour, agency executive director.

"We could always use the money," he said.

The housing authority is considering putting the money toward the purchase of new boilers at two of the high-rises, replacing an outside elevator, replacing a roof on one of the high-rises, replacing an emergency generator and possibly fixing up the front and back porches at the family project.

CANTON HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Canton Housing Authority has not decided how it will spend the $310,378 in federal aid it will receive from the stimulus package through Office of Capital Improvements grants.

"We have a long-range plan, a five-year agency plan, and that is consistent with the work items and projects we project will be needed over the next five years," she said. "We'll be able to utilize those funds to do that work more rapidly."

The agency board of directors will soon review the information and make a decision, she said.

The housing authority has 217 units throughout 13 buildings.

AKWESASNE GRANTS

An expansion to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe-run Akwesasne Housing Authority elderly complex will be made possible by $927,902 in new federal aid from the $255 million Native American Housing Grants component of the stimulus package, according to Becilia M. Cook, the housing authority's chief financial officer.

Mrs. Cook said the agency has been planning to expand the elderly complex, so the funding announcement last week was perfect timing.

"It will help us realize it a little sooner than we anticipated," she said. "We are already in the planning stages."

Ms. Cook said the housing authority, which has approximately 300 units, will also vie for the $1 billion in competitive funds available from the Office of Capital Improvements.

Housing authority officials in Massena, Potsdam, Norfolk, West Carthage and Wilna were not available for comment Monday.