BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Seniors who live in Smithfield Court public housing will have the opportunity to move into new affordable senior housing at the site of the former Graymont Elementary School.
Director of Community Development for the City of Birmingham Meghan Venable-Thomas said they are in the first phase of their Choice Neighborhood Initiative grant program right now. The city was awarded $50 million from HUD last year for the redevelopment of the Smithfield public housing site and neighborhood.
Plans call for replacing 450 units of affordable housing at the Smithfield public housing site by redeveloping mixed use across eight different sites of about 920 units. Those buildings will be demolished once new developments are in place for residents beginning at the site of the former Graymont school.
“You know what I think it’s great, because I think our senior citizen need a better place to stay, there’s so much going on out here,” remarked Valencia O’Neal.
She looks after her elderly auntie and hopes her loved one will want to move into the new affordable apartment units once they are built just down the street.