Housing Authority: Demolition, replacement of some structures part of strategy

A New Berns Housing Authority official said there were no definite plans, but demolition of some of the public housing units will occur.

Rico Correia, director of development and human resources for the housing authority, told the New Bern Board of Aldermen Tuesday night there was a lot of discussion about possible demolition at the Housing Authority.

There are a lot of arguments about whether public housing will be torn down, he said, adding yes it will.

The Housing Authority is in the process of modernizing and revitalizing public housing in New Bern, Correia said.

Julian Marsh, executive director of the New Bern Housing Authority, said Wednesday they are seeking a $400,000 Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development that will be used to plan for that modernization. He hopes to hear if the grant is approved in late September or early October, he said.

We are looking at some demolition, Marsh said. The current configuration of housing is too dense. It is the densest public housing in the state. Public housing as we know it will cease to exist.

Marsh said until the Housing Authority has a plan, he does not know when demolition would occur or what housing units would be targeted.

Correia said when demolition occurs, no one will be left homeless and no one will be displaced.

We will make sure everyone has a safe, affordable place to live, he said.

But the New Bern Housing Authority, like all public housing authorities across the country, is facing a shortage of funding. The recent federal government sequestration has also affected funding from HUD. Correia said New Bern is now getting about 60 percent of the funding it used to.

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Housing Authority: Demolition, replacement of some structures part of strategy