By Howard Koplowitz
Nearly $50 million in federal stimulus money was approved to renovate 10 public housing projects in Queens, the New York City Housing Authority said last week.
The lion’s share of the funding was slated for the Woodside Houses, the agency said, where $20 million was allocated for a new roof.
The Beach 41st Street Houses in Far Rockaway was expected to receive more than $9 million in stimulus funds for roof replacements and an upgrade to its heating system, NYCHA announced.
In Jamaica, the Baisley Park Houses was approved for more than $6.7 million for female locker rooms and a new roof.
College Point Rehab, the Conlon Lifhe Towers, Latimer Gardens in Flushing, Leavitt Street in Flushing and the Shelton Houses in Jamaica were all also approved for roof replacements, according to the agency.
Citywide, NYCHA was given $423.3 million for renovations to public housing.
“The stimulus funds will create more than 3,200 jobs, while also improving the apartment buildings of thousands of New Yorkers and affirming our commitment to preserving public housing,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement.
The Shelton Houses was also earmarked $2.6 million for brickwork.
More than $1 million is planned to be spent at Queensbridge in Long Island City for an exterior compactor, according to NYCHA.
At the South Jamaica Houses, nearly $2.5 million was set aside to replace a steam zone valve and for new interior stairs, the agency said.
The federal stimulus package was approved by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in February in an attempt to turn around the economy, in part by allocating money to construction projects that can provide jobs.
Bloomberg said about 3,255 jobs would be created through work done at the city’s housing projects.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
