$5 million repairs approved by CHA

More than $5 million in emergency repairs for deterioratingpublic housing was authorized Tuesday by the Chicago HousingAuthority Board.

The money comes from $31 million awarded last year by the U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development for renovations. Underthe agreement between the two agencies, $19 million of that must bespent on emergency repairs by the end of September.

Emergency repairs costing $3.3 million already have beenapproved, and about $7 million will go toward two big projects,systemwide mechanical and electrical repairs and replacement of trashchutes at Stateway Gardens on the South Side.

Most of the $5.3 million approved Tuesday will go for thereplacement of roofs at nine developments, including $1 million forHenry Horner Homes, $750,000 for Wentworth and $779,000 for LathropHomes.

Other projects include masonry and concrete restoration work atthree developments, updating electrical systems at threedevelopments, tuckpointing at Harrison Courts, security gates atRobert Taylor Homes and Darrow Homes, and asbestos work at the ABLAheating plant.

The action came after last week's announcement that HUD hadinvited the CHA to apply for some $48 million in modernization fundsfor next year. That money will be used for similar, though lessurgent, improvements.

The board also gave the staff the green light to apply for a$100,000 grant from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation, based inNashville, Tenn., to draft a plan to counter drug abuse. Once a planis developed, the CHA will apply for another grant to implement it,said Carol Adams, director of resident services.

CHA Chairman Vincent Lane said after the meeting that he hashired a former HUD employee, Chris Oliver, to act as director of anew department of housing development. The department will seek tobuild more housing units for the agency, he said.