Local officials and stakeholders celebrated the completion of the $53 million renovation of the housing units in Churchill Park — formerly Rolling Heights — with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning at the complex.
All 248 apartments received a complete makeover during the project, which began in 2022.
“We pretty much took them down to the studs,” said Shauna Boom, Housing Authority of Owensboro executive director and CEO, in noting that the apartments have new flooring, paint and cabinets, among other amenities.
The project also included building 20 accessible units ranging from one bedroom to four bedrooms, installing new playground equipment, fixing sidewalks and repaving parking lots.
“The folks that live up here, who lived here before it was renovated and after it was renovated, have greatly positive comments about the renovations,” Boom said.
The buildings were originally built in 1954, when Rolling Heights became the third complex of public housing in Owensboro.
In 2018, the Housing Authority of Owensboro began converting all the public housing units into Section 8 subsidized apartments to provide more stability of funding and flexibility for public housing expansion.
“The change means that public housing will be around for years to come,” Boom said. “Public Housing’s funding structure changed in such a way that it was decreasing, so we chose to convert to Section 8 project-based vouchers. So with the funds that come from any of our proceeds go directly back into the units to improve them or to expand affordable housing in the city of Owensboro.”
Boom said the biggest benefit derived from converting to Section 8 housing is the Housing Authority will have quicker access to money.
“It costs no more or no less (for tenants), but the funds come in quicker; we don’t have to wait 12 months,” Boom said. “So with that, when the roof needs to be replaced, wiring redone, we have the funds and can go do that. It gives us more control so these units can be here (for a long time).”
Section 8 tenants pay approximately 30% of their gross income for rent.
Boom said there are 601 family members who live in Churchill Park, and it has 100% occupancy.
The project also included renovations to Girls Inc, Wightman Unit and the HAO’s administrative offices.
By Scott Hagerman Messenger Inquirer