HED Bremerton Housing Authority purchases Winfield apartments in ManetteSUBHED Current residents will need to be eligible to remain

The 22-unit Winfield apartments in East Bremerton has been purchased by the Bremerton Housing Authority, turning it into public housing, according to a Nov. 1 release.

The $850,000 purchase comes from a portion of the $20 million Department of Housing and Urban Development HOPE VI public housing revitalization grant awarded to the housing authority.

Kurt Wiest, executive director of the housing authority, said that 13 of the 22 rental units are occupied and a meeting is scheduled for Thursday to meet with existing residents to determine if they will be eligible to remain.

“We hope they all do,” said Wiest. “I have no reason to believe they wouldn’t.”

In order for residents to continue residing at the apartments located at 2300 Winfield Avenue, they will need to meet HUD income requirements. Wiest said for a family of four the income requirement is about $37,215.

The housing authority intends to upgrade the property — costing $660,000 — in improvements including long-term sustainability, health and safety and energy efficiency.

In addition, two of the 22 units will be upgraded to  Americans with Disability Act standards as well as one unit that will be improved to include features for hearing and sight impaired. Wiest said the unit would include a door bell and smoke detector that had a light flash.

Wiest said Wednesday that the housing authority is putting the request for proposal on construction work and expect bids to be received by the end of the month. They plan to have construction begin before the end of the year with the improvements to the apartments completed by June 2012.

“I believe it’s going to be a great addition to the neighborhood. It’s on a quiet street — people were drawn there for the same reasons before we purchased it,” Wiest said.