GALVESTON — Galveston Housing Authority officials Thursday will hold the second of four public meetings on a proposed rebuilding plan.
Last week, Executive Director Harish Krishnarao announced his recommendation to build 340 town houses and apartments on the sites of four public housing developments demolished after Hurricane Ike. Krishnarao wants to scatter another 229 housing units across the island.
The housing authority board of commissioners voted unanimously earlier this year to rebuild all 569 public housing units lost to the storm. That decision was part of an agreement with advocacy group Lone Star Legal Aid, which threatened to file an injunction against any rebuilding plans that decreased the number of public housing units on the island.
Krishnarao will present his final recommendation to the board in mid December.
Comments made during the four public meetings could change the details of his recommendation, he has said.
Board members already approved plans to build 20 duplexes at the site of Palm Terrace, which used to include 104 apartments.
The consultant hired to create site plans for each new development gave Krishnarao three options to choose from for the three other sites: Magnolia Homes, Cedar Terrace and Oleander Homes.
The first option would put all the new housing on the existing sites. The other two options lowered the density at the sites and spread the balance of the units into other neighborhoods.
Krishnarao chose the option with the least density, in response to complaints from neighborhood organizations in the areas surrounding several of the properties.
