By CARRIE STAMBAUGH - The Independent
ASHLAND — The Ashland Housing Authority will continue to undertake additional improvements to its facilities thanks to a large capital projects grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Director Rick L. Young announced Monday that the agency has received $473,519 for the federal fiscal year ending next week. The money will be combined with federal stimulus dollars to pay for improvements to the exterior of Scope Towers Building 1, he said.
The capital grant will also go toward the cost of renovating and converting 10 units into five larger, ADA compliant units, according to Young.
The Housing Authority also received $601,652 in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year, he said.
Those funds have been used for the removal of asbestos in apartments, installation of new floor tile and the painting of numerous apartments. Concrete repairs around the Scope Towers were also made to remove trip hazards and a new set of concrete steps have also been installed at Building 2 that lead from the parking lot on 31st Street into the building.
New antennas and modulators have also been installed in both Scope Towers buildings so residents can enjoy six different channels of service without cable, Young said. Twenty new furnaces and air conditioning units have also been installed at Debord Terrace using stimulus funds.
In addition, the Housing Authority is in the process of having 32 security cameras installed in Scope Towers Building 2. This includes two cameras outside the building, one in each elevator and the remaining areas of the building.
Young said officials are hopeful that security cameras will also be installed in Building 1 later this year. The cameras are being paid for with Community Development Block Grant funds, which are also from HUD, along with the capital grant funds.
The improvements being made this year follow extensive renovations last year. New roofs were installed at both buildings at Scope Towers along with lightning protection, new walkway canopies, and two new boilers in Building 2.
According to Young, the agency is awaiting approval of two other competitive stimulus grant applications. If those funds are received, the housing authority will replace roofs at Debord Terrace and will make 12 more apartments at Scope Towers ADA accessible.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
