Many people in Michigan know how difficult it is to find a place to live the first time let alone multiple times after that. Finding the right place with the right amount of space for the right amount of money can be difficult, if not daunting at times. But what if you were told that you had to move? What would you do then?
Residents in Alabama may have an answer to these questions now after two apartment complexes notified all of its residents that they needed to move out of the complexes. According to the city, the buildings, which were built in the 1970s, were simply too expensive to repair and modernize.
In 2010, an architectural study was conducted on two of the commercial properties which concluded that it would take more than $17 million to repair and modernize the aging buildings. It was money the city said they didn’t have and thus the decision was made to have the residents relocate to other housing options.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2010 approved a request for assistance vouchers proposed by the city’s housing board to help residents pay their rent at the new locations. Under the assistance program, residents pay 30 percent of their monthly income for rent and the voucher covers the rest. Because of the inconvenience, both housing agencies assured residents that they would not only help them find new places to live but would cover moving costs as well.
In January, the city plans to speak to a financial advisor to figure out what to do with the properties. Demolition of the complexes has already been red-lighted as the city does not have the money for the project; however, it’s possible to sell the properties at auction if they can find a buyer willing to not only buy the property but foot the bill to fix it.
Source: The Tampa Bay Times, “Most tenants of Brooksville apartments set to close have found new homes,” Tony Marrero, Dec. 2, 2012
