Housing Authority outlines capital improvements, resident services and timeline for Plaza East solicitations

Housing Authority staff and property-management partners reported progress on repairs and resident services at Plaza East and outlined a tentative procurement schedule to fund larger capital work and expanded resident services.

John Stewart Company representatives reported January operations at Plaza East, noting 169 work orders opened and closed in January, an average work‑order response time of one day, and 17 emergency work orders that were all resolved (average completion about 15 hours). Property management said three flood incidents were linked to an interior plumbing issue and that maintenance responded to prevent mold or permanent damage.

Resident-services coordinator Camille Hegney described tenant engagement and on‑site programming — weekly hot meals, technology and computer-literacy classes, grief counseling and outreach events — and reported that staff had connected roughly 75 residents with referrals in January.

Housing authority staff member Zawadi presented a procurement timeline for capital improvements and resident services, saying an initial draft of the IFB/RFP would go to the Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development for review between March 1 and March 11 and that the Authority hopes to publish solicitations around March 22. Zawadi said MOHCD had "potentially committed $2,000,000" to support the plan and that contract awards could follow in April if the timeline holds.

Commissioners emphasized clearer communications to resident councils and ongoing coordination with on‑site partners to ensure residents know what repairs and services are being provided; staff committed to regular resident notifications and to making materials multilingual as needed.

The board directed staff to continue outreach and to return with follow-up reports on communications and procurement progress.