Houma’s Senator Circle reveals renovated apartments

A handful of Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority residents were left speechless last week after touring three newly renovated housing units in Senator Circle.

“It’s beautiful,” said Housing Authority Board Commissioner Pat Cazec, who was the only commissioner to tour the units last Tuesday. The other four commissioners had prior engagements and could not attend the tour.

At first sight, Senator Circle resident Fannie Celestine said, “Wow! This is nice.”

Taking in the complete living quarters, Bayou Towers resident Peter Ruffin said, “Now, I would love to live in one of these.”

Bayou Towers is the housing authority’s oldest complex, located on West Park.

The renovations at Senator Circle came after residents’ advocated for months to have their dwellings improved, according to Telisa Clark, Senator Circle resident council vice president. “I am excited about the improvements to the housing units,” she said.

Clark has been a resident of the low-income housing complex for more than 20 years.

Housing Authority Director Wayne Thibodeaux said the buildings are old and many of them have not been improved since they were constructed in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

In September, a labor crew comprised of housing authority employees was hired to gut the inside of 30 units in the housing complex. The complex has more than 200 housing units.

Thibodeaux had a one-year timeline set to complete the project; however, he said that there is no way it will be met by September 2008. Of the 30 units, two (a one-bedroom and a two-bedroom unit) have been completed. A third is being refurbished.

Clark agreed that it is taking a lengthy amount of time to complete the housing upgrades, but she is glad that the work is under way.

To speed progress, the renovation crew might see some changes in the near future.

The director said he could possibly request architect proposals from the public or go through the parish contract bidding process to finish the remaining units.

“They [Senator Circle housing units] are assets that we use to bring in revenue for the agency, and they need to be modernized,” he said.

For now, the seven-person crew, including Senator Circle resident Linda Smith, will remain on the job.

When asked the total cost of the project, Thibodeaux said a final tally is being taken.

“My staff is currently working on the figures and cost estimates as we speak,” he said. “We have to factor in the wages for the workers and the cost for materials before a final estimate is given.”