Housing authority chairman wants report on units’ status

Thursday, March 11, 2004 | 9:38 a.m.

Las Vegas Housing Authority Chairman Robert Gronauer has asked the agency's executive director, Parviz Ghadiri, for a full accounting of why 788 public housing units have been sold, demolished or boarded up since 1998 while thousands of people remain on a waiting list for homes.

Ghadiri, who said he is wrapping up a report for Gronauer, said more than 700 of the units were demolished because it was considered cheaper to demolish the units and rebuild than to make the necessary repairs.

Gronauer, however, said he had questions as to why only about 100 units have since been replaced.

"I don't know what is true and what isn't, and we need to get to the bottom of it," Gronauer said.

Gronauer said he wants a detailed report for every housing area in order to be able to see how to best "make a difference" in getting as many units as possible back online.

"We need to focus our resources on one area at a time," Gronauer said.

One development Gronauer and Ghadiri said they want to focus on is the Ernie Cragin Development at Charleston Boulevard and Honolulu Street. The 54 units there have sat unoccupied for two years and are in dire need of repair, Ghadiri said.

There are three possible options for the property, according to Ghadiri. The authority can make the most needed repairs and get people moved in quickly, but even the minimal repairs would cost $2 million and the units would likely fall into disrepair again within months. More comprehensive repairs would cost twice as much.

Demolishing the units and rebuilding two-story units on the property, however, would provide 120-some units that will last 20 to 30 years, Ghadiri said. However, rebuilding means no one will be able to move into those units for another year and a half.

It is up to the board to decide what route to take, Ghadiri said.

Ghadiri said all of the units that have been demolished in recent years will be rebuilt, along with 150 additional units, within the next two years. The Harry Reid development on Charleston Boulevard near 28th Street will open within the next few months.

But of the 950 units planned, only about 464 are under development right now, according to a report issued by the housing authority.

About 1,300 people are on the waiting list for family housing, 1,500 for Section 8 vouchers and 300 for senior housing, Ghadiri said. Many applicants are duplicates applying for whatever program they can gain access to, he said.

The authority oversees more than 2,000 current units and 4,000 vouchers, Ghadiri said.