MEDIA ADVISORY

Mayor: Jennifer P. Dougherty

Questions, call Bob Hendricks (301) 662-3691

Housing Authority marks demolition of John Hanson units with ceremony

An historic change is about to occur in the City’s downtown area when six public housing apartment buildings will succumb to the force of a wrecking claw to begin making way for 90 new townhomes.

On February 9, 2005, the Housing Authority of the City of Frederick will mark this occasion with an outdoor ceremony to bid farewell to both John Hanson Apartments and Roger Brooke Taney Apartments. Invited guests include U.S. Senator Sarbanes and Mikulski, U. S. Congressman Bartlett, local Delegates, City Aldermen and Frederick County Commissioners.

The demolition is the beginning of a two-to-three year development process utilizing Department of Housing and Urban Development HOPE VI grant funds to improve housing opportunities for low-income families residing in Frederick.

The Housing Authority signed a contract with and authorized National Salvage and Service Corporation of Clear Creek, Indiana to proceed with demolition of the John Hanson units. After the demolition contractor mobilized in early January, a minor asbestos removal project was undertaken to remove mastic (glue) from between floor tiles and concrete floors in most of the units. Other items, like playground equipment, shrubs and fencing have been removed. Inside the units, appliances have been removed and salvaged.

Speakers at the event include Mayor Jennifer Dougherty and Bernard Brown, Chairman of the Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners. Invited guests will get a glimpse of the demolition as part of the roof will be removed from one building. During the demolition, anyone may view the progress over the Internet by connecting to the HOPE VI page of the Housing Authority’s website, www.northmarketrevitalization.com.

The contractor estimates that the demolition should be complete by early June, resulting in a seeded lot awaiting the new townhomes. The demolition of Taney Apartments will start this fall. HOPE VI staff working on the project from offices in Taney will move up Klineharts Alley at the end of this summer to a restored building on 7 th Street, donated by the City as part of the project.