九色视频

Run by the housing commission, the 64-unit, voucher-based complex celebrated a renovation this spring, adding 14 apartments to accommodate more low-income tenants. It opened its doors to town, county and state officials for tours upon completion.

But move-in for residents has been delayed since May.

Easton Town Council members expressed concerns earlier this month about the delay, pointing out how it has and will continue to create confusion for residents.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e gonna have a lot of people who ride by those buildings, and say, 鈥榃hat in the world is going on?鈥欌�� said Councilmember the Rev. Elmer Davis, whose ward includes Doverbrook, at an Aug. 4 town meeting.

Don Bibb, the Housing Commission鈥檚 executive director, fielded questions from the council on the matter.

Bibb said the mounting holdups stem from HUD鈥檚 requirement that the complex鈥檚 housing choice voucher plan undergo a 45-day public comment period and be advertised in a newspaper. The plan, available for public review in Easton鈥檚 town office, outlines the complex鈥檚 occupancy guidelines and priority and waitlist rules, among other things.

Bibb said the commission made slight changes to the plan, such as clarifying which residents are given priority. HUD determined the changes necessitated a reset of the 45-day comment period.

鈥淲e dispute that point,鈥� Bibb said at the Aug. 4 meeting. He said a waiver request has been submitted to the federal agency.

HUD did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

The apartments were closed in December 2023 for renovation. Returning residents, who have been temporarily housed by the commission in St. Michaels, will have priority. In April, 145 people applied to be put on the Doverbrook waitlist, Bibb said last week.

Davis said in an interview Tuesday that the situation is a 鈥渟ad state of affairs.鈥�

The council member has spoken to residents who have sent in applications, and he said their excitement to move into the new apartments has dwindled with the significant delay.

Residents must meet income standards and qualify for the housing vouchers to have their applications approved for the voucher-based complex. Davis is concerned the holdup could put some at a disadvantage.

鈥淲hat if a person was good in May and may not be good in August or September?鈥� Davis said. 鈥淭hey won鈥檛 be able to get an apartment, and I don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 fair.鈥�

Bibb said in an interview last month that rumors spurred by the delay, such as site contractors not getting paid, are false.

Amid swirling speculation, Bibb said the commission would like to get the ball rolling, but he maintained that the commission would continue to honor HUD鈥檚 needs.

鈥淲e鈥檙e losing revenue. That鈥檚 not a good thing,鈥� Bibb said on July 25. 鈥淏ut it is what it is. Compliance with federal government is a critical point for any type of project like this.鈥�

At the time, Bibb said the hope was for most of the units to be occupied by the end of August. But at last week鈥檚 Town Council meeting, it seemed that target would be moving back.

Bibb told the council that if the waiver request isn鈥檛 approved, the updated housing choice voucher plan for Doverbrook Apartments was set to go live Aug. 7. That would make Sept. 21 or 22 the worst-case scenario dates for move-in to begin, he said.

Davis said he hopes such delays can be prevented in the future. He acknowledged that the renovated apartments themselves are impressive.

鈥淚 think (last week鈥檚) discussion brought a lot of enlightenment,鈥� Davis said on Tuesday. 鈥� ... There were still a lot of questions that were left on the table.鈥�