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Housing chief: Sale may be halted

But if Graham-Rogall is to be kept as low-income housing, repairs may cost at least $22-million.

By AARON SHAROCKMAN
Published January 19, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The city Housing Authority's top executive said he would consider halting the proposed sale of a 486-unit public housing high-rise if money could be found to complete needed renovations.

But where the money would come from is anyone's guess.

Responding to questions from the St. Petersburg City Council, Housing Authority executive director Darrell Irions said his agency was still open to a compromise solution at Graham-Rogall, a low-income housing project under contract to be sold to condominium developers.

Irions said that included saving Graham-Rogall if the needed changes could be made.

"Yes, sir," Irions answered, when asked by council members if the Housing Authority would be open to retaining Graham-Rogall for subsidized housing. Irions added, however, that it could cost at least $22-million.

The hallways are too narrow, the elevators are too small, and most of the units - mainly efficiencies and one-bedroom apartments - are no longer desirable, Irions said.

The Housing Authority asked the Housing and Urban Development Department about potential grants for the renovations, but Irions said officials were told that Graham-Rogall was not a priority.

Money could still potentially come from the city, the county, the state or the federal government, said council member Jamie Bennett.

It's unclear if anyone would offer or have enough money to save the housing project, now home to 318 people.

The talk of saving Graham-Rogall was just part of more than 90 minutes of discussion Thursday between Irions and council members.

Council members also quizzed Irions about his decision to sell off so much of St. Petersburg's public housing. If the Graham-Rogall sale is completed, only about 300 public units would remain in the city where there were once more than 1,000.

Irions told council members that a combination of shrinking federal subsidies and the desire to spread out low-income renters using a voucher system necessitated the change in philosophy. The voucher program, where families choose where they live and the Housing Authority helps pay the rent, helped nearly 2,700 families in 2006, Irions said.

And with the nearly $12-million from the sale of Graham-Rogall, along with money from another complex that has already been sold, the Housing Authority can reinvest in new affordable housing options in and around St. Petersburg.

Council Chairman John Bryan was unsure the Housing Authority would be able to easily replenish its housing stock, even with millions of dollars to spend.

"The city is building units," Bryan said. "We're looking at building units. We're becoming a housing authority. We're kind of doing your job."

"If you were doing my job," Irions responded, "you'd have more gray hairs on your head than you do now."

"If I was doing your job," answered Bryan, "I'd be thrilled to give away vouchers and not own anything, too."

The exchange was the most contentious in an otherwise subdued council chamber. Irions brought more than a dozen Housing Authority officials with him, including board members from the St. Petersburg, Pinellas County and Clearwater housing authorities.

Under the current plan, Graham-Rogall residents will be relocated into apartments and homes across Pinellas County.

The purchaser of the nearly 4-acre Graham-Rogall site, meanwhile, has agreed to put $1-million of the sales price up front to help pay for relocation expenses.

It intends to then renovate the entire building, which is near Tropicana Field, into about 300 condominiums.

Aaron Sharockman can be reached at asharockman@sptimes.com or 727 892-2273.

[Last modified January 19, 2007, 00:48:51]