LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tearing down the three Dosker Manor high-rise buildings and starting over on that very same property is the necessary path forward, says the leader of the Louisville Metro Housing Authority (LMHA).
After telling Metro Councilmembers on Wednesday that the 'best' option for people living in the decaying apartment facility is to demolish them, LMHA executive director Elizabeth Strojan doubled down on her comments on Thursday.
"What we keep hearing is that the conditions there are not acceptable, and most people are ready to move," she said. "We have two options. We can either do a major rehabilitation, or we can demolish and rebuild. We cannot keep it like it is. It's terrible currently, and we are not going to sell the buildings."
Strojan told WHAS11 renovating Louisville's largest public housing complex is not feasible. The buildings have been around since 1968 and hold more than 650 units.
"These are plans. We're working closely with HUD to make sure we have all the appropriate approvals," she said. "Right now, what LMHA is working on is planning for the smoothest relocation possible."
The Housing Authority is preparing to relocate more than 500 people currently living at Dosker Manor, starting with building 'A' that Strojan says is in the worst shape.
"The bed bugs have come back. The smell is just unbearable," said Rosalind Smith, who's lived in building 'B' for eight years. "I don't think anything is going to make a difference until we actually, really tear Dosker Manor down."
LMHA is no longer taking new lease applications for Dosker Manor, as they hope to move current tenants out by the end of the year.
Strojan said they're looking to rehouse people at other LMHA properties and partner sites that take housing vouchers -- which the Housing Authority promised to provide.
"Anybody who is moving out of Dosker is going to either have a voucher or another public housing unit -- ready to go," Strojan said.
When asked, Mayor Craig Greenberg said he supports the direction of LMHA.
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"We will ensure that they get set up with an apartment that suits their needs as best as possible," Greenberg said.
If the demolition were to happen, the city's goal is to rebuild on the current Dosker Manor property, which LMHA has no plans of selling.
Strojan said the difference this time around is high-rises would be taken out of the equation.
"We think we would be able to provide higher quality housing, if we were to build back a little less dense," she said. "And allow people who want to return to come back."
Meanwhile, residents like Smith said they "want the buildings torn down completely because it would be best for all of us. I know it would be best for me."
Strojan acknowledged not every Dosker Manor tenant wants to move. For many, the apartment complex just east of downtown Louisville has been home for several years, with easy access to healthcare at hospitals across the street.
Some tenants have told us they're not in the condition to move.
Nonetheless, a relocation will be happening at some point in the coming months. LMHA said they still have to hire more employees like housing navigators and mobility specialists to support the effort.
Strojan assured tenants that no one's rent will go up as a result of the move, saying the Housing Authority is also looking to cover moving expenses.
LMHA is waiting on federal approval from HUD before they can proceed.
HUD provided this statement to WHAS11 News Friday afternoon:
“The HUD team in Kentucky is working closely with the Louisville Metro Housing Authority to provide technical assistance as the agency moves forward to address conditions at Dosker Manor. Consultation with Dosker Manor residents is a required component of any plans for demolition or disposition. Should the choice be made to demolish or dispose of the development, the housing authority must submit a formal application to HUD for thorough review and approval. Any proposed action at Dosker Manor that requires moving of the residents, whether demolition, disposition, or major rehabilitation, must include a detailed relocation plan that is also reviewed by HUD.”
If tearing down the buildings is the decision, LMHA planned to develop other sites like the old First Link grocery store property across from Dosker Manor, which they own.
The former Iroquois Homes site is another option, and LMHA is putting out request for proposals to find co-development partners.
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