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A partnership plans to renovate the 192-unit Greenwood Apartment complex.
By CHRISTINA HEADRICK
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 3, 2001
CLEARWATER -- The dilapidated Greenwood Apartments will be extensively renovated to the tune of at least $10.3-million, thanks to a partnership between Bank of America and Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services.
"We're just thrilled this proposed partnership is under way," said Isay Gulley, executive director of Clearwater Neighborhood Housing, a nonprofit group that helps create affordable housing. "The community has mentioned the need for change at this location for quite some time."
The 192-unit, 9.4-acre complex at 1001 N Greenwood Ave. with cracking, rusting units would be completely transformed, according to plans filed recently with the city. The renovations would take place gradually over the next year, with residents moved into vacant units while their homes are being renovated.
"We have a plan," Gulley said. "They're a lot of nice people there and good residents. I will have to do whatever I can to make sure that residents don't feel threatened by this."
According to the construction plans, the apartment complex's deteriorating stucco buildings would be repaired and painted shades of blue, yellow and taupe. Units would have new windows with decorative shutters, and new doors and central heating and air conditioning would be installed. (Residents now have to pay extra rent for a window air conditioning unit.)
Apartments would receive new electric panels, roofs, appliances, bathroom fixtures, fans, kitchen cabinets, carpeting and lights, plans show. New asphalt roads with curbs and sidewalks will wind through the complex adorned with crape myrtle, palms and flowering shrubs.
Plans also call for a 3,500-square-foot clubhouse, dubbed a "Make a Difference Center," to be built, including a computer lab and space for programs such as children's after-school activities, adult education classes and health screenings. There would even be a new children's playground.
Finally, there would be a "complete property management turn around" under Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Services, city records indicate. Clearwater Neighborhood Housing would be a joint owner of the property along with the Bank of America Community Development Corp.
Although Gulley and Bank of America officials declined to give many details yet, their proposal to the city indicates there will be criminal background checks of new tenants and a zero-tolerance policy for drug-related crimes.
Some residents of the 52-year-old Greenwood Apartments seemed overwhelmed Tuesday when told of the pending project.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," said Ollie Williams, who looked up at the sky as she said the words.
Williams, who is 62, has lived here for nearly 40 years and raised five of her children here as a single mother after her husband died. She tried to keep up her unit all those years, planting flowers and trees in her yard, which she surrounded by a white lattice fence. But at the same time, she says, she watched the Greenwood Apartments become rundown.
"I can't believe it, but I'll be so glad if they do that," she said.
Jacqueline Blunt, 40, was also thankful to hear some details about the proposal. She is raising three children and three grandchildren in her small, two-story unit, where she is working to save some money and get on her feet again. A fire destroyed her uninsured home several years ago.
Living here for the past year, Blunt had problems with a leaky toilet that dripped into a kitchen cabinet full of food, which had to be thrown out. But she has tried to make her unit a nice place to live. She picks up trash she finds on the ground, keeps nearby trees trimmed and even planted grass seeds on the bare spots in the lawn.
"It would be so much better," she said. "I'd be willing to put up with any work, because it needs a lot of work."
Several things need to happen before the project becomes reality. The partners involved in the deal still need to close on the purchase of the apartments from Jacksonville attorney Daniel Wilensky, whose family has owned the complex since 1956. Wilensky says he supports the project.
In addition, Clearwater still has to give final approval to the construction plans, and both the city and Pinellas County have to approve the deal's financing.
The deal calls for the county to issue bonds for $5-million to $6-million, in addition to a $700,000 low-interest loan from the city, city records indicate.
"We're very supportive of the effort," said Nina Bandoni, assistant director of Clearwater's housing division. "They're not only providing a major rehabilitation, but also additional improvements for the residents."
Tax credits, grant dollars and Bank of America financing round out the money in the deal, city records indicate. Last year, Bank of America tackled $170-million in community reinvestment projects nationwide, said bank spokeswoman Christina Byer.
"This is right in line with that mission," Beyer said. "Although it's still a bit early for some details."