Housing Project Remodeling Finances Seem Unclear

By John Jackson

Unresolved questions persist about how much the remodeling effort at 3 of Corpus Christi's 11 housing projects will cost.

Clairelaine Gardens resident, Ron Kolb, said that outgoing Housing Authority Chairman William D. Bonilla told him that all renovations combined would only cost $590,000. Kolb said Bonilla then added, "I'm busy, I'm a lawyer, that's the total."

Mr. Bonilla, said in an interview however that phase 1 and phase 2 of the remodeling effort will each cost around $600,000. The actual cost so far has proved to be much more than that.

Bonilla himself at the March 31st Housing Authority meeting made a motion to accept Hoover Construction Inc.’s bid for phase 2 renovations, which alone totaled $957,477. This does not include other expenses for phase two, such as contracts for moving, electrical, and plumbing for the buildings. The measure was ultimately supported by the board.

CCHA Sr. Vice President, Lorenzo Buitron later added that the cost of the first two phases combined would be cost between $1.5 and $1.6 million.

However, the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website revealed in fact that more than $3 million had been budgeted for phases 1 and 2 of Clairelaine Gardens renovations, which are still being implemented. Phase 3, which has not yet been voted on, was budgeted for nearly $2 million. The costs of Phases 4 and 5 have neither been budgeted nor voted on as of yet.

The Corpus Christi Housing Authority report for the fiscal years of 2004 through 2008 revealed that a total of $8,263,370 was budgeted for remodeling of the 3 apartment complexes, along with an additional $1,426,978 for repairs on 3 other projects.Some of the funds from the Obama stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) were also diverted to Phase 2 renovations, but it is yet unclear how much.

At the same meeting, earmark projects were also approved for "energy efficient" windows at Ruthmary Price, as well as the removal of asphalt from parking lots there and at Parkway Place, and small ornamental bus stanchions at four complexes. Surprisingly, the only proposal relating to security was the installation of security cameras at 6 of the projects.