From the Virgin Islands Daily News:
The V.I. Housing Authority has begun a $117 million rehabilitation of the Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion housing community, kickstarting the authority’s revamp of affordable housing in the territory.
The project is being undertaken in concert with stateside company MDG Design + Construction to achieve a new look for the 248-unit affordable housing development located at the corner of Centerline Road and Sandy Point Road in Frederiksted, St. Croix.
“The revitalization of Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion will allow residents to remain safely and affordably in their homes, with the added peace-of-mind that their home will be safe and protected from future storms,” said Michael Rooney, a founding principal of MDG Design + Construction, in a prepared statement. “As our first project outside of the continental U.S., we are grateful to all our incredible partners who share our passion and excitement for this important work and allowed us to bring our expertise and resources to St. Croix.”
According to the news release, the community was built in 1971, and the project sustained significant damage from Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Once renovated, the housing community will “preserve affordability for residents, modernize the development, and strengthen the site’s resilience to natural disasters.”
Funding will come in part by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rental Assistance Demonstration program, but it is only the first project of the authority’s “long-term plan to renovate and rebuild its affordable housing portfolio,” according to the statement.
Additional financing of nearly $50 million is coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs, and over $23 million from Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.
Read the Virgin Islands Daily News' article "Housing Authority kicks off affordable housing rebuild project."