All four of the Howard County-owned low-income housing developments are showing “signs of disrepair” and will cost taxpayers at least $1 million to be rehabilitated, Housing Director Stacy Spann said.
“We need to do some extensive work at virtually all the properties,” he told the County Council at the council?s second work session Thursday on the capital budget, which finances construction projects.
County Executive Ken Ulman?s proposed fiscal 2008 capital budget includes $1 million for upgrades to Hilltop Community, Guilford Gardens, Harmony Lane and Morningside Gardens.
Since this request, serious health and safety violations such as plumbing problems were uncovered at Guilford Gardens by federal inspectors.
“We had not anticipated the level or scope of the challenges at Guilford Gardens,” Spann said.
Howard has decided to overhaul Guilford Gardens to provide mixed-income housing units and an environmentally friendly design.
The county plans to seek additional funding, because the budgeted $1 million would not cover the redevelopment costs, Spann said. But it is enough for maintenance and upgrades such as fixing kitchens and heating systems, he said.
The budget also includes $1 million for a land-banking program that allows the county to buy land for low- and moderate-income housing and work force housing.
Although projects on land acquired through this program go through a budget and approval process before building begins, housing projects on land the Housing Commission owns are not subject to the same review, Department of Public Works Director Jim Irvin said.
This lack of public vetting is a concern, Council Member Courtney Watson, D-District 1 said.
