As seen on the New Haven Independent by Dereen Shirnekhi

New kitchens, bathrooms, and electrical and plumbing systems — among other improvements — are coming to five different housing authority-owned properties across the city, thanks to an approval handed down by the housing authority’s Board of Commissioners.

One commissioner expressed concern over the nearly $2 million price tag. In the end, the upgrades were approved unanimously.

The exchange took place at a Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH) monthly board meeting on Tuesday, held both virtually and in person at 360 Orange St.

Senior Project Manager Rachel Gilroy presented to the board two resolutions requesting approval to authorize two contracts to fully rehab seven units across five HANH-owned multi- and single-family houses. Both contractors were selected through a request for proposals (RFP) process.

One contract with A. Prete Construction Company, Inc. is valued at $1,269,420 for three of the housing authority’s Scattered Sites East properties at 759 Quinnipiac Ave., 1091 Townsend Ave., and 140 Harrington Ave. Five total units will be rehabbed and families will be temporarily relocated.

Gilroy said that in addition to the full rehab, the upgrades will include “abatement of mold and asbestos,” as well as the replacement of lead-laden soil. (The full project breakdown and its associated costs can be found in the housing authority’s March 17 meeting agenda.)

The second awarded contract is with A-Preferred Construction, LLC for the amount of $710,468.80. The contractor will rehab two single-family homes, located at 555 Fountain St. and 116 Lawncrest Rd., as part of the housing authority’s Scattered Sites West properties. In addition to the rehab, according to Gilroy, upgrades will include the “removal of old oil tanks that have started to leak and become a fire hazard.”

According to HANH President Shenae Draughn, the latter two west-side properties are currently vacant.

Both rehab projects are expected to start within 60-90 days and be completed no later than six months after, Draughn said.

Board Chair Bill Kilpatrick and present Commissioners Danya Keene, Kevin Alvarez, and Elmer Rivera Bello unanimously voted in support of the first contract. After Gilroy presented the second contract, Rivera Bello asked how many units would be rehabbed.

For the second contract, Gilroy said, two units.

“As board members, I know we approve a lot of these awards,” Rivera Bello said. “Is there an opportunity for us to see how this money’s being spent and the type of renovations that are being done for what we’re approving?”

“Absolutely,” said Draughn. She explained that there are architectural drawings and specifications that could be shared with Rivera Bello.

“I just want to get a sense, that’s all, and I apologize,” Rivera Bello said. “I just want to be more informed with the decisions. We’re approving a lot of money for these renovation projects.”

Kilpatrick noted to Rivera Bello that resolutions are typically vetted at subcommittee meetings, and that if there is an agenda item he is interested in, he can request more information and sit in on subcommittees outside of his assignment.

Rivera Bello said he appreciated that. “Maybe it’s because I’m still green,” he said. “When I hear new construction costing 400,000 [dollars] a unit, 450 a unit,” and then renovations costing $350,000 per unit, “I just have to question it. I’m not fully understanding it.”

Draughn said that she was happy to continue that conversation with him, and noted that with the Scattered Sites properties, there is abatement and remediation work involved. “It’s not necessarily apples to apples when we look at purely construction costs,” she said.

In the end, Rivera Bello joined other members of the board in approving the second contract as well.

Draughn said that, in relocating tenants, the housing authority will factor in children and the schools they attend and try to keep families close to their communities. Draughn said that they will look at what other units are available and also work with hotels.

Draughn is expecting a schedule from the developers soon. While the contract states that work has to be completed no later than six months after starting, she said, “oftentimes it is less.”

The Scattered Sites project is among several major rehab efforts the housing authority is currently working on. Click here and here to read about much larger-scale efforts at Crawford Manor and Eastview Terrace.

Here are some other highlights from the housing authority’s latest board meeting.

1. Union Square: HANH submitted on March 9 its application for $26 million as part of a federal Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant, in order to fund the first phase of a massive, $1.5 billion development project that is anticipated to eventually result in nearly 2,500 new apartments at the former Church Street South site across the street from Union Station. The housing authority had hoped that the city’s Board of Alders and City Plan Commission would approve a zoning amendment and site plan ahead of the submission deadline to give the application an edge in what’s expected to be a competitive pool. That didn’t happen. The Board of Alders wound up approving the zoning amendment at its Monday night meeting and the City Plan Commission is expected to vote on the phase-one site plan — regarding the project’s first 541 new apartments — at its Wednesday night meeting.
   • Asked what the housing authority might do if the application is rejected, Draughn said that HANH would continue with phase one and the construction of the first 541 apartments under a tax credit funding model. The plan would then be to re-apply for the grant to fund the next phase of construction.
2. New Girl Scouts troop: Commissioners authorized on Tuesday a Memorandum of Agreement with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut for on-site programming at all family development sites, from April 2026 to April 2027. This is the second year that HANH will have a partnership with the Girl Scouts; there are around 14 K-8 girls who are registered. The program instills “courage, confidence, and character,” according to LaToya Mills, HANH’s director of community. “Look out for cookie sales.”