The Chattanooga Housing Authority’s largest high-rise for the elderly has had no handicapped-accessible rooms or doors since the site was built, but by this time next year, CHA officials say it will.
“There are some issues at Boynton (Terrace) that we need to correct,” said CHA board Chairman Eddie Holmes. “Any time funds become available, we want to upgrade the standards of our units.”
After at least two failed attempts for tax credits from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency to make Boynton Terrace handicapped accessible, CHA officials say they will use money they have in capital funds to make 18 units accessible by summer 2011 and help the site meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
Renovations at Boynton are expected to begin in August, officials said. When they are finished, 13 apartments in the 250-unit development will be handicap accessible for people in wheelchairs or scooters. Another five units will accommodate residents who have hearing or seeing disabilities, officials said.
Renovations also will include handicap-accessible automatic doors at the entrances to all Boynton buildings.
“This renovation project is extremely important because it’s allowing CHA to expand our ability to serve residents with disabilities and provide affordable housing that will better accommodate their needs,” said Betsy McCright, the housing authority’s executive director. “These improvements will enhance the quality of life for all residents living at Boynton.”
Boynton Terrace Resident Association President Joe Clark estimates one-third of the 250 elderly residents are disabled.
It’s the biggest renovation the Boynton building has had since it was built in 1971, said Naveed Minhas, CHA’s vice president of development.
Former Boynton resident Jackie Rankin said housing officials should have made the accommodations earlier. He moved out of Boynton in March to live in neighboring housing development Gateway Towers, which has automatic doors.
“The housing authority needs its butt kicked,” said Mr. Rankin, a 56-year-old amputee with no legs. “It’s a lot of elderly people up here walking with canes. Those old doors are heavy for the old folks.”
He said he nearly bent the control panel off his wheelchair while trying to work the controls and get through the doors at Boynton at the same time.
Several disabled people must wait for someone to open the door for them before they can enter or exit, Mr. Rankin said.
Mrs. McCright said the housing authority applied for tax credits at lest twice in the past four years for funding to make all units at Boynton handicap accessible, but the Tennessee Housing Development Agency denied both requests.
However, housing officials received abut $6.3 million in federal stimulus money in 2009 that paid for some projects the housing authority had planned to implement with its capital campaign funds.
By using federal funds to repair properties, housing authority officials were able to save some money in their general fund. They’ll use about $650,000 of those dollars to renovate the units in Boynton.