Port Arthur Housing Authority commissioners quietly voted against submitting a grant application for more low income housing during a special meeting on Thursday.

The board of commissioners spent just shy of one hour — 58 minutes to be exact — in executive session where they discussed submitting the application to the Texas General Land Office through Community Development Block Grants for funds related to the rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of affordable multi-housing projects in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey. A second, related issue — approving a memorandum of understanding with a developer, DSW Homes, also failed at the table.

Several commissioners declined to comment on the issue and deferred comments to PAHA Executive Director Seledonio “Cele” Quesada.

While Quesada couldn’t say the exact reason the board voted down the issue, he did try to sum up their actions for The News.

“They felt at this point we were not in a position to move forward with the application,” Quesada said.

Port Arthur Mayor Derrick Freeman said he appreciates the board of commissioners’ decision.

“We have some very competent people on that board,” Freeman said.

Freeman said he read the PAHA’s report and noted that some of the properties would be mixed use, meaning some tenants would pay market rate rent and there was a provision for renters to become homeowners in 20 years — “But we want them to get to homeownership sooner than that.”

The application

Commissioners were faced with the possibility of grant money tied to Harvey to rehab, reconstruct or construct affordable multi-housing projects the city.

The properties in question included adding 149 new single family homes at Bellbrook Estates off of Ray Avenue in the Port Acres area and adding 13 more duplexes at Edison Square in the 3500 block of 12th Street.

The board of commissioners is scheduled to hold a regular meeting on Monday. Vice-chairman Robert Reid asked for information on the number of vouchers PAHA provides at Avery Trace Apartment Complex while Commissioner Bart Bragg requested copies of contracts with management services for all of the properties the organization oversees.