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| By Paula Canning Staff Writer CHICOPEE Federal funding in the amount of $700,000 has been earmarked for the Chicopee Housing Authority to complete improvement projects on some of the city's federally subsidized complexes that are much in need of repair, Chicopee Housing Director James Lynch said. According to Lynch, the funding, which was secured through HUD (Housing and Urban Development), will allow the Authority to move forward with repairs and improvements at Cabot Manor and Canterbury Arms apartments. He explained that many of the 26 buildings at Cabot Manor are in need of electrical, roof and siding repairs, and that Canterbury Arms apartments are in significant need of a variety of exterior works. HUD has given the Authority until Aug. 12 to provide detailed information on how the funding will be used. The Authority has received the funding from HUD for the past nine years, in an amount that Lynch said "always varies." This year's allocation marks a decrease in funding. Last year, the authority received $771,000 for upgrades and the year before $810,000, Lynch said. He added that in the years prior, the funding was lower than this year's allocation. "It all depends on how many other housing authorities the HUD has, the age, condition and size of the buildings and how much money Congress can provide," he explained. Lynch explained that a limited amount of funding has left the Authority "significantly behind" in providing updates to state assisted housing developments such as the Bury Apartments, located on East Main Street. He explained that while the costs for construction and labor have increased over the years, the Authority's budget has remained the same. "This is the fourth year in a row that the state hasn't allowed us any more money," he said. He said many of these state assisted housing complexes include buildings that were constructed in the early 1950's and still have their original kitchens and underground utilities. "Things like this end up costing more money in the end than if they has just been [consistently] repaired," he said. He added that while the Authority always does what it can while opearting within its budget, "it's going to be a challenging year for the Housing Authority." Lynch also told Reminder Publications that the Board of Housing Commissioners HUD has approved the Authority's five-year spending plan outlining the authority's major projects it hopes to complete over the next five years. He explained that prior to submitting the five-year plan in April, input was solicited from tenants, staff, and other consultants on what the Authority needs to do in order to maintain its properities. "Based on this input, we provide HUD with a plan that we have, that is adjusted based on the amount of money that we receive," he said. |