With about $12 million in Recovery Act funds, the Housing Authority will be able to renovate 52 public housing apartment units in the Northview Heights Family Community. They also received about $225,000 to renovate the roof on the Northview Heights Terrace senior home.

Chuck Rohrer of the Housing Authority said that all 26 of the first floor units were being converted to meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, meaning they will handicap and wheelchair accessible.

He said that many of the first-floor renovations would simply make it easier for people in wheelchairs to get around. They will install lower sinks, roll-in shower stalls, and also widen doors and hallways. Only handicapped persons will able to apply for and live in these units

The remaining 26 second-floor units will be available to anyone, but Rohrer said that those applying still had to go through the usual public housing application. Normally residents make between $35,000 and $66,000 per year, depending on household size, and pay about 30 percent of their total income.

As far as the Northview Heights Terrace roof, Rohrer said that there was nothing wrong with it — yet — but that it was over 20 years old and its warranty had expired in 2006.

“We’re trying to maintain it,” he said. “It’s routine.”

Rohrer added that the Housing Authority hadn’t yet awarded contracts for either project, but that they may be able to by the end of July.