WEST BRATTLEBORO — Near a brook in West Brattleboro, on a quiet street, stand the nine apartment complexes and a community building that comprise Hayes Court. Owned by the Brattleboro Housing Authority (BHA) and occupied by 72 families, it is a small piece of heaven.
On May 24, in a meeting called by the BHA, we were told that all nine buildings would be torn down to make room for an assisted-living complex and for a building with 37 apartments. We were also told that, in about three months, we would all be notified about starting the process of finding new housing.
We have a great many questions and concerns.
Most of the residents are very upset and can't begin to fathom what will happen to them.
These buildings were built in the 1970s and, to us, are sturdy, sound, and located in a great part of town.
We are constantly told that our government is broke. How, then, does it make any sense at all to destroy perfectly good buildings in order to build an assisted-living complex? Doesn't anyone care? What sense does that make?
Wouldn't it make more sense to locate the new facility somewhere else?
Can you imagine the tremendous amount of natural resources heading to the landfills from this operation?
And what about the expense of moving all 72 residents into new housing?
The list of expenses goes on and on. Is this the best use of government money - which, after all, is ultimately the people's money?
Why, also, is this project being rushed?
Though it would be nice to have an assisted-living complex in Brattleboro, we feel it's wrong to make it happen by taking down nine buildings where people of limited income reside.