Where did all the BTW residents go?

Much of the Booker T. Washington Apartment public housing complex has been demolished at the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Victory Drive, and some in the community may be wondering whatever happened to the 391 families who lived there.

The project began with the demolition of the old Chapman Homes Apartments on Fort Benning Road, where 100 units were built for senior residents. The next phase involved tearing down units at the northern end of the BTW property where another 106 units will soon be constructed. About seven buildings that remain on the southeast side of the property will be demolished over the next few weeks, with the hope of attracting commercial development, said Columbus Housing Authority Executive Director Len Williams. And residents have been relocated all over the city.

“The last resident moved out in October,” said John Casteel, chief assisted housing officer for the local Housing Authority. “We gave them all a form when we did the briefings and let them know what their options were. They could choose whether they wanted to go to other public housing developments; if they wanted a Section 8 tenant-based voucher that they could take anywhere in Muscogee County; or they could choose to move out and live with somebody else.”

Here’s how the numbers break down according to Housing Authority records:

Public Housing

Of the 391 families, 139 received public housing transfers, which they used at Warren Williams, Wilson Homes, Chase Homes, Canty Homes, Farley Homes, Rivers Homes, Nicholson Terrace, E.J. Knight Gardens and E.J. Knight Homes.

The percentage was higher than other Housing Authority redevelopment projects because Section 8 vouchers weren’t available when the project began, Casteel said. Once relocation started on the southern end of the property, more people began opting for Section 8 vouchers, which tend to be popular with residents.

Section 8

Another 142 families received Section 8 tenant-based vouchers, which could be used anywhere in Muscogee County as long as a landlord is willing to participate.

“It gives them options for mobility if they have a job or have family members or a school that they want to move closer to,” Casteel said. “They can rent in just about any neighborhood in Columbus, as long as it’s within the payment standard. They’re not tied to public housing or one apartment complex.”

Mixed-Income Housing Units

Some families were relocated to recently renovated mixed-income, tax-credit properties such as Arbor Pointe and Ashley Station, which accept project-based Section 8 vouchers.

Five moved to Arbor Pointe 1 on Section 8; four moved to Arbor Pointe 2 on Section 8; seven moved to The Cottages at Arbor Pointe on Section 8; and one moved to Ashley Station on the public housing program.

Other Locations

Seventy-six families moved to private property and off of public assistance

Booker T. Washington

Some of the residents will be allowed to return to the BTW site, which will be renamed Columbus Commons. But they will have to meet strict requirements to be considered. “If they qualify, they would take a preference over someone coming in off of the street,” Casteel said.

The leasing process is expected to begin about a year from now when Columbus Commons is completed.

This story was originally published June 7, 2016 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Where did all the BTW residents go?."