Clarification on the Future of Crystal Towers Amid Tenant Concerns
Amid rising concerns from residents over potential displacement, the leadership of Winston-Salem’s housing authority has declared that Crystal Towers is not on the market. This announcement follows a collective plea from tenants seeking assurance of their housing security.
Efforts are underway by ASPIRE, which is actively looking for a nonprofit collaborator for the prospective redevelopment of Crystal Towers, a downtown affordable housing complex that has been in dire need of repairs for some time.
The Crystal Towers United tenant association has proactively reached out with a letter requesting legal guarantees for residents should the complex undergo redevelopment. Their demands include the right for current residents to return post-redevelopment, among other safeguards.
Gwendolyn Hay, a resident of Crystal Towers for nearly two decades, voiced the community’s need for transparency at a recent press event. “If they’re going to do it, let us know,” Hay stated. “Because where the heck are we going? There’s a housing shortage in Winston-Salem.”
In response, ASPIRE Executive Director Ted Ortiviz reassured that selling the building is not on the agenda. “We’ll continue to fill the building if we do have vacancies; our community needs affordable housing,” Ortiviz emphasized. “If work orders are submitted, we’ll go in and complete those work orders. It’ll be business as usual for our staff.”
To maintain transparency, Ortiviz is forming an advisory committee comprising residents and local officials to evaluate any proposals related to Crystal Towers.
