By Eric Curl
Aug. 9, 2022 – In a span of about 32 hours last month, more than 5,000 applications were submitted to the Housing Authority of Savannah’s waiting list for public housing.
Executive Director Earline Davis reported the figure to the board during their meeting on Tuesday. With the application period running from 8 a.m. on July 25 to 4:30 p.m. on July 26, Davis said that the number received was higher than what the authority typically receives. Part of the increase may have been due to some incorrect information being spread on social media that the waiting list was for Section 8 housing, or housing vouchers, when it was really just for the authority’s public housing communities, Davis said. In addition, the waiting list was opened for, two, three, four and five bedroom apartments, when it is typically just opened for one housing type, she said.
Stillwell Elevator fix approved
During Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved an almost $1.5 million contract to modernize the three elevators at Stillwell Towers, the 20-story, 211-unit public housing apartment building on Waters Avenue for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
The current elevator systems at Stillwell are inefficient, outdated and beyond continued economic repair, while ongoing maintenance contracts have been unable to provide reliable service, according housing authority officials. This has reportedly led to frequent unscheduled elevator outages.
The board’s vote on Tuesday ratified the verbal support given by the three remaining members of the five member board for the project at a meeting on July 13. At the July meeting, Chairwoman Wanda Parrish, Vice Chairman Darrel Daise and Edward Gresham voiced support for the proposal, but were unable to take an official vote on the matter due to a lack of a quorum. While three members constitutes a quorum, Gresham’s support came via phone, so no official vote could be taken. The five member board also has two vacancies, following the resignation of a previous chairman G. Lind Taylor in April and resignation of Thomas Henry on July 1.
On Tuesday, Mayor Van Johnson, who is responsible for appointing the board members, said he expects to fill the vacancies by the housing authority’s next meeting in September.
Johnson said has been looking to diversify the board, which is currently comprised of all African American members, as well as find someone who is familiar with housing and nonprofits and understands how a board operates.
“It’s very difficult work,” he said. “I want someone with that type of acumen about those issues who will be able to contribute to the board.”
As far as the elevator fix goes, last month’s lack of a quorum did not result in any delays and the verbal support given last month was enough to move the project forward, according to the housing authority’s Deputy Director Kenneth Clark. Still, the project is not expected to be completed until the fourth quarter of 2023 – due largely to an expected six-month wait to obtain the necessary materials for the project as a result of supply chain issues.
Warnock Honorary Street designation approved
The board also approved on Tuesday the city of Savannah’s request for an honorary street designation in honor of US Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), who grew up in the Kayton Homes public housing community.
Cape Street, which runs through the Kayton, would be designated “Raphael Warnock Way” under the proposal going before the Savannah City Council on Thursday. The housing authority’s approval was necessary because the city’s naming ordinance requires the approval of the surrounding property owner. The honorary street designation is only symbolic and would not change the name of the street.
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