St. Petersburg Housing Authority wants drastically smaller Graham-Rogall complex

ST. PETERSBURG - Darrell Irions, executive director of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, unveiled Thursday a $17 million proposal to makeover the city's largest public housing complex, which would result in drastically fewer housing units for the area's poorest residents.

The Graham-Rogall complex near Tropicana Field has 486 public housing units. The new complex would have 155, of which only 25 units would be reserved specifically for public housing residents. The other units could be used by public housing residents or low-income residents who earn too much to qualify for public housing, but still meet federal affordable housing requirements.

The 336-unit Graham structure, built in 1971, would be demolished. A 50-unit structure would be built on the site. Of those, 25 units would be earmarked for public housing residents. The other 25 units could be occupied by families who qualify under a formula based on income.

The Rogall building, built in 1978, would undergo a $14.4 million renovation. The building's 150 units would be reduced to 105 larger apartments.

The proposed two-story complex would also have new amenities, such as a pool.

The Housing Authority would seek federal housing funds to pay for the project.

A handful of City Council members praised the effort Thursday. Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis also applauded the effort.

Council member Wengay Newton said no one should have to live in the run-down complex.

"Keep doing what you are doing," said Newton. "There are going to be people who are going to talk about you, but they talk about Jesus Christ."

The future of the Graham-Rogall complex has been uncertain since the Housing Authority announced its intent to sell the aging development in 2004. To prepare for the sale, the Housing Authority began moving residents out in 2007, but the sale fell through earlier this year when the proposed buyer concluded the $10 million price tag was too steep.

The Housing Authority said it would cost $22.3 million to fix the building in 2007, but a St. Petersburg Times anaylsis found the estimate may be inflated. A 2003 Housing Authority report said it would take $6.3-million to modernize the property.

Public housing officials across the country have been moving toward smaller public housing structures in recent years to integrate low-income residents with other renters and property owners.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

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Comments

[John]

Build it and they will... destroy it.

[scott moreman]

Enjoy

[Teresa]

Okay so they need a pool? I don't think so.
Not on my dime. I would love a pool but don't have one. Never been on public assistance & I don't think these folks have to have one. This is
want not a need. Don't waste my taxes! This is this craziest idea I have heard of yet. You have to be joking!!

[Things that make you go; Hmmmmmm?]

Why is anyone listening to what Irions has to say?

Isn’t he under investigation for shady dealing with taxpayers money while he was running the county boondoggle… errr… Housing Authority?

Why haven’t we heard anymore about that situation?

Why is he and his wife (controlling Clearwater’s boon.. err… housing authority) still living off our dime?

Why isn’t the Times exposing the major, major racket that’s fleecing Pinellas taxpayers?

[This is a travesty]

The Graham Rogall complex has been a community for the elderly and physically and mentally challenged. You are going to go from 486 units to 25 available for public housing.
Shame on you Saint Pete Housing Authority. Have you no decency? With little or no low income housing available anywhere close in do you just plan to bus everyone out of town?
I've heard all of your promises before but this is just a huge mistake.

There is shopping just across the street. Residents can walk downtown. They can go to the baseball game.(ok they probably can't) Healthcare is nearby. Do we have no humanity left in this town?

[Happy taxpayer]

Rip it down-it's St. Pete and they can live in tents!

[attentive1]

Happy taxpayer? Stupid taxpayer is a better description. As for the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, when are they going to wake up; if you understand that one of the major sources of crime in urban areas is the ghettoization of various racial and/or ethnic groups in high rise apartment complexes, e.g., the late Prewett/Igo complexes of Chicago. Late, they tore them down and replaced it with mixed income housing, some low income rental and and owner units. You just don't seem to understand the definition of "insanity"--repeating the same thing and expecting a different result.
Wake up.Finally, where is councilman Wengay Newton on this issue? Sitting in the shadows with ever-running mouth closed.

[Zen Master]

While having visited Caprini Green in Chicago which was far worse than Prewett I would agree the trend towards smaller can change things for the better.

My problem is that this complex is not full of gang banging thugs like those were, so it is a false comparison.

This one is full of handicapped and mentally unstable people. Where will they go?

I agree having a pool is a waste. Will they have a lifeguard? Cause their are allot of people their that would drown if you let them use it unsupervised. The lawsuits from that will cost us even more.

[Wakeupstpetersburg]

Mr. Irions and his wife are a big joke to employees. He's always more interested in the women and she just turns her head to it. I'd love to see the times report on that. Not to mention the amount of money that goes into their salaries and pension funds on their behalf. You thought his salary was $225,000 but you never factored in the rest. He does nothing with Section 8 so the taxpayers are paying an insane amount for less than 200 public housing units. You do the math. Those two are just laughing at the stupidity of the Boards not to realize this. Keep it up St. Pete.

[Howdoesthatwork]

Mr. Irions seems to like to waste taxpayers money, since our tax $$$ also go to paying his legal council to answer basic questions like how does a women who got fired from her job for alcohol abuse get an increase in funds plus and all her utilities paid for as a reward? Then when she completely damages her residence is allowed to move to a new one leaving the taxpayers paying the tab while she continues to live free?? Both offenses are terminable under Title 24,but MR Irions seems to reward offenders who disrespect a pgm meant to help while others more worthy are left w/ nothing.. Maybe the SPtimes should investigate how our $$$$ are being spent or wasted by a program with no accountability