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The secretary of Housing and Urban Development picked a hot day to visit Houston and see firsthand how stimulus dollars are being spent. Shaun Donovan along with congressmembers Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green toured the Kennedy Place Housing development that’s under construction.
Kennedy place was a 60 unit public housing complex built in 1982. It was torn down in December and now with stimulus funds they’re rebuilding it into a 100 unit energy efficient complex. This is congressman Al Green.
“We sleep in houses and we live in neighborhoods. While this project is going to provide jobs and it will provide homes for persons. It also is going to improve the quality of life in a neighborhood.“
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee emphasizes how the project is putting people to work.
“These are the men and I know that there’s some women behind the scenes, they’re part of the workforce. The jobs. What did I say? Jobs. I can’t hear you, Jobs.“
“Mr. Secretary I want you to go back with a message. As I bring you forward and that is a humble appreciation without any qualms of the 849million 839 thousand 989 dollars in the 18th congressional district in out of the stimulus dollars.“
The general contractor on this project is Watermark Construction. Manager Tim Rodgers says the project may not have created jobs but it certainly saved many.
“The economic conditions have caused the multi family industry to diminish considerably over the past two years. Its these type of projects that have allowed companies like ours to be able to sustain ourselves while things stabilize and come back.“
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.
“We were literally staring at a second great depression. But I am here at Kennedy Place with 7.8 million dollars in recovery act dollars rebuilding this property to say that it is clear that in communities like Houston the Recovery Act is making an enormous difference.“
The new Kennedy Place Apts are scheduled to open around the first of next year. As for the stimulus dollars, it’s believed the election in November will be a gauge of how average Americans feel about the direction of the economy.
Bill Stamps, KUHF News.