FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Rhonda Rosenberg, Director of Communications, 206-574-1185
Oct. 15, 2009
Funds will upgrade senior housing complex, boost local economy
Federal stimulus dollars are paying to make improvements at Hillsview, a 60-unit public housing complex for seniors and people with disabilities in Sedro-Woolley. Contractors began to mobilize on Tuesday.
“This initiative will help spur the local economy and improve the quality and comfort of affordable housing for our most vulnerable residents,” said Sedro-Woolley Housing Authority Board Chair Kacy Johnson.
Funding for the $189,590 project was awarded to the Sedro-Woolley Housing Authority in April as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The money is part of a $4 billion boost for housing authorities nationwide to preserve and enhance the country’s public housing stock.
Improvements to Hillsview will include installation of energy-efficient lighting for and upgrades to interior hallways, lobby areas, and the elevator; the addition of handrails and other improvements to assist mobility-impaired residents; a remodel of the community room and communal kitchen; and the replacement of existing floors with new plywood and carpeting. Additionally, fire doors and apartment unit entry doors will be replaced. Environmentally-responsible products such as low-VOC paints and carpet made from recycled material will be used; fixtures and other purchased items will be made in America.
“One of our top priorities is to maintain the highest possible standards of safety and well-being for our seniors and for persons with disabilities,” said Stephen Norman, executive director of the King County Housing Authority and Secretary to the SWHA. KCHA is under contract to oversee the daily operations of the Sedro-Woolley Housing Authority. “These improvements not only will raise the quality and ensure the long-term viability of an important public resource; they also will reduce utility bills and improve the safety and comfort of our seniors and residents with disabilities. Additionally, the project will offer a boost to the local economy as workers procure goods and services in the community over the next several months.” Without ARRA funds, these upgrades would have had to be tackled as three or four separate projects over the course of as many years, Norman added.
The general contractor for the project is Old World Construction of Des Moines, Wash. Architectural services will be provided by ORB Architects. BCE Engineers, Inc. is the mechanical and electrical engineering firm. The electrical contractor is Standard Wire Company and the mechanical contractor is Emerald Aire. About 15–20 workers from a variety of trades will be employed on the project. Old World Construction has rented quarters in Sedro-Woolley for its workers, who will live here for the duration of the project. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The Sedro-Woolley Housing Authority owns 80 units of public housing.