56 December 2015 - Business View Caribbean
the obsolete developments and building viable re-
placement developments to ensure that we have de-
sirable, state-of-the-art housing with a useful life of 40
years,” he says. “When we right-size, we will reduce at
least 500 units of the 800 vacant units, and in some
cases we will receive replacement vouchers for what
we are currently demolishing. So we are reducing the
number of public housing but we’re replacing that
number with new developments and an increase in
the number of vouchers, where possible.”
One of VIHA’s newest developments is the Louis E.
Brown public housing development, the largest rede-
velopment effort ever undertaken by the agency. The
first two phases – 102 family units and 40 senior vil-
las - have been completed and Graham says that ne-
gotiations are ongoing with a developer for Phase III.
Ultimately, the plan is to have a total of 224 one- to
three-bedroom units for families and seniors. And in
an effort to reduce its residents’ utility bills, the prop-
erties come equipped with solar lighting, solar thermal
water heaters, energy efficient appliances, and rain-
fall cisterns. “That development is very, very attrac-
tive. It is, in my estimation, the best-looking and best-
designed development on St. Croix,” Graham exults.
“Many residents feel that way, as well, because our
public housing waiting list for 1,200 older public hous-
ing is 800; the waiting list for this development is at
least twice that. So, the demand is for new, affordable,
attractive housing.”
Like many other HAs, VIHA offers its public housing
residents other services including educational op-
portunities, job training and employment programs,
and support programs for the elderly, as well as home
ownership programs for qualified families. “We have a
home ownership program in one development where
we’re selling to current residents single-family, one to
three bedroom units, as is. Graham says. “They have
some deterioration, but we will repair them so they
