By Ken Alltucker
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority's board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday to seek permission from the federal government to raze the aging English Woods low-income public housing complex.

The quick vote without explanation by the five board members angered dozens of residents of English Woods and neighboring communities, who urged the board save the 700-unit community in North Fairmount.

"It's not over, this is just the beginning," said Dorothy Terry, president of the English Woods Civic Association-Resident Community Council, which promises a lawsuit to halt demolition..

Now, CMHA will ship off its demolition application to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. If HUD agrees that the World War II-era complex is "nonviable," residents could be relocated by November with demolition starting in early 2004. It's expected to cost $5.1 million to raze the apartments.

Chairman Chip Gerhardt disputed claims that the demolition vote was hastily pushed through. More than two years of review and 50 meetings with residents and city leaders led to Tuesday's vote, he said.

"I know we are a convenient bad guy, but public housing is never easy," said Gerhardt. "When you look at the rehab costs of that community, from a fiduciary standpoint, it would be irresponsible to upgrade apartments that are not viable."

The growing political debate over the fate of English Woods has intensified over the last three months with city, state and federal lawmakers lining up against CMHA. City Council has threatened to sever all financial ties with CMHA, and U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot steered $450,000 in federal funds away from the housing authority to the city of Cincinnati.

The battle has included an unusual alliance of low-income public housing tenants and residents of neighboring communities who object to plans to relocate the poor to their communities. Residents of Westwood, Price Hill and other city neighborhoods fear that the problems of crime and blight will inevitably follow too much low-income housing.

Displaced English Woods tenants will have the option of moving to other low-income, public housing complexes or using Section 8 vouchers to rent from private landlords.

Before the vote, CMHA's city-appointed board members Doris Hill and Deborah Jimmerson chastised City Councilman John Cranley for his suggestion that they resign from the board because of their support for the demolition.

"I felt that was disrespectful," said Hill.

But Cranley said Hill and Jimmerson failed to listen to city residents before their vote.

"The fact is, nobody supports this plan," Cranley said. "This is the death of democracy."

Two, more modern English Woods additions - 118 units built four decades ago and the 138-unit Marquette Manor high-rise for the elderly and disabled - will be preserved under the plan.

Marcia Battle, vice president of the English Woods Civic Association/Resident Community Council, said her group sent a letter asking HUD to investigate how CMHA spent money earmarked for English Woods CMHA contends it will cost in excess of $130,000 per unit for structural, plumbing and other fixes.

E-mail kalltucker@enquirer.com