130 low-income family homes preserved

AUSTIN (KXAN) - More than 100 families in East Austin will get to stay in their federally subsidized apartments after city officials worked to preserve their homes - homes some have known for more than 20 years.

With the help of city partnerships and bonds, 130 low-income apartment units in the 40-year-old Elm Ridge Apartments will be getting a much-needed facelift as improvements launched Wednesday morning.

"Like a baby in a candy store," said resident Brenda Yarbrough. "It's just the excitement about it. It'll make me feel better."

"No one's done any renovations since I've been here," said Latisha Surgers, who has lived in the apartment complex on-and-off since she was 13. "I've seen a lot of managers come and go, and owners come and go."

She is now 36 years old and said she's lived at the apartments at 1161 Harvey Lane for seven of her adult years. And the best part about the renovation is that she and others get to stay in their homes during the renovation.

"I really like my neighbors," said Yarbrough. "They're older people, and I've been able to help them out a lot, you know, like do things for them. And I really enjoy that. Some of them really depend on me."

"I'm really excited they're going to give us a chance to live well," said Surgers.

Tour of apartment unit before renovation 

Interior improvements include:

• energy-efficient appliances: refrigerator, stoves and dishwashers
• heating- and air conditioning systems and ceiling fans
• new counter tops, cabinets, bathtubs and bathroom fixtures
• Upgrade of 10 percent of the units to Americans with Disability Act compliant handicap units

Exterior improvements include:

• new paint
• parking lot resurfacing
• landscaping
• security upgrades

Also in store:

• basketball court
• close-care facility
• two playgrounds
• picnic area
• computer lab

"I'm excited about all of it," said Surgers. "I'm a little embarassed for my kids to have company over. The renovations would mean that my kids could have friends come over now."

A mother of five, Surgers has a 16-year-old daughter taking accelerated classes in high school.

However, the lack of computers in the apartment complex has forced her to walk to two of the nearest public libraries - one more than 1 mile away - to complete her heavy course load.

Part of the sweeping renovation, the upcoming on-location computer installation means Surgers' daughter no longer has to make a trek - one Surgers said often involves grown men in the area harassing the teen.

 

The computers will also help Patches Castillo's two boys in elementary school, who are often assigned extra Web-based assignments outside the classroom.

"I think having computers here will be great just for them," said Castillo. "I think it's going to be good for all the residents here."

 

Yarbrough is preparing to have her four grandchildren at her apartment during spring break and said something as simple as new windows and a ceiling fan will really make a difference.

"It'll make it feel more homey and make me feel better about where I live," said Yarbrough. "Sometimes you live in bad conditions that make you depressed, but to me it would uplift my spirits."

All tenants in the "project-based" complex pay rent according to their household income, the average being $170. Project-based means the U.S. Housing and Urban Development subsidy stays with the unit. Meanwhile, HUD pays the difference between the cost of rent and the amount paid by a resident.

City officials said a recent report by the Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Office found a limited amount of affordable multifamily housing units that are publicly subsidized in Austin - about 5 percent.

Of those 8,000 housing units, about, 1,350 are project-based Section 8 complexes with federal subsidies set to expire in 2011.

Meanwhile, this project marks the first time the City of Austin has a financial stake inpreserving federally subsidized Section 8 housing.