Northpinellas: County to demolish Highlander Village

DUNEDIN -- The small talk among residents at the Highlander Village public housing development has, for months, been dominated by speculation on what plans the county had for their complex.

Now they know.

"It's our intention to demolish it," said Angel Tua, deputy director of the Pinellas County Housing Authority.

Housing authority officials recently notified residents of plans to level the 50-unit cluster on Highland Avenue and build new ones.

Though it has few ideas about what it wants to replace Highlander Village, the housing authority said it will seek funds from the federal government's Hope 6 program.

Hope 6 is a federal program started by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1992 to revitalize severely distressed public housing while introducing support services to its residents such as GEDs, home buyer classes and classes on repairing credit.

Meanwhile Highlander Village tenants, whose income-based rent is subsidized by the housing authority, will be issued Section 8 vouchers and have been told to find new places to live.

Section 8 vouchers are rent subsidies that allow low-income families to choose housing in areas other than public housing developments.

Among the reasons for razing Highlander Village were asbestos in some of the units' popcorn ceilings and flooring as well as lead paint in door jambs and on doors.

"If the material becomes disturbed in some way and the asbestos fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled and lodge on the lungs," said Lewis Johnson, an industrial hygienist at the University of Florida. "You could certainly see where kids could bounce a ball off of (a ceiling) or someone was trying to clean it that might be a problem."

According to housing reports, removing asbestos from 20 of Highlander Village's units and eliminating lead and mildew from the entire complex could cost as much as $2-million. Rebuilding the complex could cost $5-million to $12-million.

Some residents are skeptical.

"I've lived here about a year and a half and I don't see a need for them to close the place," said Iszak McDaniel, between sips of coffee. "It's like spilling a drop of coffee on a carpet and saying you need to replace the whole thing."

"I think they're using the asbestos argument to instill fear in people," added McDaniel, who is disabled with back problems and whose rent is paid by Social Services. "I think they should explore more options."

Housing officials say they don't have any.

The department has known about the problems with asbestos and lead paint for about three years, but it still did not have the money to address the problems and right now has only $400,000 to help pay for any work.

Though residents have mixed feelings about the county's decision to replace Highlander Village, most are frustrated at the prospect of moving.

"I don't like the idea because I liked it here," said Lorraine Ostrom, who has lived there for six years.

"When I moved here I thought I would never move again," added the 61-year-old, whose rent is $130 per month. "But I feel bad for the people with kids because it's not easy finding an apartment with kids."

Latrelle Thurman, however, doesn't mind.

The 11-year Highlander resident says after she receives a Section 8 voucher, her plan is to start looking for a new place for her and her two children, Sabrina, 16 and Jermaine, 14.

"As long as they are working with us -- moving us to another house -- I'm okay with that," she said. "These apartments are so run down, I figured there was going to be something (happening.)"

-- Leon M. Tucker can be reached at (727) 445-4167 or tucker@sptimes.com .

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