Warren Williams Homes to join list of rehabilitation projects

The Housing Authority of Columbus announced today that it will perform a $10 million rehabilitation of the Warren Williams Apartments in Midtown, akin to redevelopments done earlier at the old Peabody Apartments, Baker Village, Chapman Homes and under way at Booker T. Washington Apartments.

The projects are being done under the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, which gives housing authorities access to private equity to renovate the properties through tax credits, said Len Williams, CEO of the housing authority. The authority intends to move forward with similar programs until all of the city’s public housing projects are rehabilitated

“We have a pretty aggressive timeline to convert all public housing to this program,” Williams said. “Between 2016 and 2019 or 20, we will convert all public housing to RAD projects.”

In addition to the projects completed and currently under way, Williams said plans are being made to address Wilson Homes, Farley Homes, Nicholson Terrace, EJ Knight Homes, Chase Homes in City Village and Elizabeth Canty Homes.

The authority just cut the ribbon on Patriot Pointe, a facility for the elderly on the old Chapman Homes site and is finishing up demolition on the Booker T. Washington site. There, work should begin this year on Columbus Commons.

“It’s amazing the good work you have done,” Mayor Teresa Tomlinson told Williams during today’s council meeting, where he announced his plans. “You have been able to bring in resources that other communities just aren’t able to do.”

City Manager Isaiah Hugley said he wanted to thank Williams personally for his work with public housing.

“You have made a tremendous impact on the quality of life for so many people who otherwise never thought they would live in the conditions that you’ve presented them,” Hugley said. “I want to give you my appreciation because I’m a product of public housing, Farley Homes and Baker Village. I know what it was like then.”

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Warren Williams Homes to join list of rehabilitation projects."