Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 11-4-16 Online Edition

Feature
No Solutions After Story Breaks About Toxic Homes In Belmont Heights Estates
Ms. Valentine Hendrix is seen inside her home showing a patch covering a hole in her wall.
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
In 1997, the Tampa Housing Authority (THA) was awarded a $32.5 Million HOPE VI Revital- ization Grant from the U. S. De- partment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and after a bidding process, the THA board voted 5-2 to hire Michael’s De- velopment to demolish the Col- lege Hill and Ponce De Leon Units, and replace them with 800 low-rent and Section 8 apartments. Also included in the project were 12 homes built on three deferent streets, but close together.
Michael’s Development was highly supporter by former Mayor, Dick Greco. In the bid- ding process, Michael’s beat out H. J. Russell, an African Ameri- can company, by a small margin.
Jerome Ryans was the new Executive Director of THA, and had not long signed his contract before the loud noises of ‘tear it down’ announcing the first dem- olition of ‘The Projects’ once called Ponce De Leon and Col- lege Hill with others to follow.
HUD was leading the charge of changing the face of public housing forever with HOPE VI grants awarded around the country.
Poor people had no say or op- tion, but to move.
What is now called Belmont Heights Estates (BHE) has been touted as a new vision to trans- form blight and despair into hope and opportunity in East Tampa. That vision included blending different income levels into a mix of new housing op- tions for diverse family types. The intention was to eliminate the boundaries of traditional public housing and create link- ages with the surrounding com- munity.
Construction of BHE began in 2003, and in June 2006, they were completed and fully occu- pied by September 2006.
Michael’s Development built the apartments, but bid out con- struction of the single-family homes to Banner Homes of Florida.
Banner’s main drywall sup-
U. S. REPRESENTATIVE KATHY CASTOR
plier was Black Bear Gypsum in Clearwater. At that time suppli- ers were purchasing drywall from Chinese manufacturers to keep up with the huge demand
created by the housing boom. No one was aware then of the sulphur emissions that black- ened and corroded copper coils and wiring, and messed up
smoke alarms.
In 2008, at least 12 families
were encouraged by THA to be- come first-time home buyers. The homes were built using the toxic Chinese drywall, and in less than a year after the homes were sold and occupied, the owners started complaining about light fixtures and wall sockets that no longer worked, and air condi- tioning units breaking down.
One resident, Valentine Hendrix who still lives in her homes said she was talking to Tonia Grant, a neighbor who had also purchased one of the homes, and she was experienc- ing problems due to the drywall.
“I contacted an attorney who was familiar with the problem, because she had been a victim of the drywall herself. She sent a group of inspectors out and that’s when I found out how bad it was.
“A group of attorneys are try- ing to get us some justice, but they said this could drag on for years. We’re all trying to do our best to get this worked out. We’ve contacted several organi- zations and no one can help us.”
Ms. Hendrix said she thinks THA needs to have their units in- spected before they allow anyone to move in.
“No one should have to go
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4-A
Commissioner Addresses Drywall Issue; Gets ‘Yes’ Vote For County To Assist Homeowners
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Wednesday, members of the Hillsborough County Com- missioners voted to provide as- sistance to residents in Belmont Heights Estates whose homes are contaminated with Chinese drywall.
The vote passed 6-0 with
Commissioner Victor Crist
being absent.
Commissioner Ken Hagan stated during the regu- lar Commissioner’s meeting on Wednesday that he had read an article about Chinese drywall in homes in Belmont Heights Es- tates.
Commissioner Hagan
called on the Board to provide assistance to those individuals who have been affected by the problem.
Commissioner Hagan
said, “After reading the story, I was angered and disappointed that these hardworking families have been failed by the system. It’s time for us to put our money
KEN HAGAN Hillsborough County Commissioner
where our mouths are and make these families whole.
“I remember when these families moved into Belmont Heights Estates. I recall a sense of pride in the city, the commu- nity, and with the families. Now, they are facing a financial night- mare and their health is in jeop- ardy. I’m not going to stand for this. We’re going to make this right.
“But, the City and the
Tampa Housing Authority must have skin in the game. We are not going to shoulder the total cost.”
Commissioner Hagan
further said he had a friend who purchased a home in Carroll- wood several years ago. The builders had used the Chinese drywall and he remembers that the family’s dog died first. Later, the wife had a miscarriage. He said the family moved out of the home and it has been boarded up for the last 8 or 9 years.
In addition to health issues, Commissioner Hagan said the drywall has an impact on the wiring and electrical system of homes and has an odor that smells like sulphur.
He suggested that funding from the SHIPP Program could be used to help the families. He also requested that the County’s legal department contact the City of Tampa and the Tampa Housing Authority to partner in the venture. He said they should report their findings at the next meeting.
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