WS Chronicle

Earlier this week the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (HAWS) gave an update on the renovations at Crystal Towers. According to residents, not much has been done to improve the living conditions inside the aging 11-story highrise. 

Before heading to the HAWS Board of Commissioners meeting at the HAWS headquarters at 500 W. 4th St. on Tuesday, Sep. 12,  more than two dozen residents gathered at the corner of 4th and Spruce Streets to let their frustrations be known. 

Longtime Crystal Towers resident, Samuel Grier, said the work to fix the elevators and make other repairs to the building has been slow. For years residents at Crystal Tours, a housing unit for seniors and individuals with disabilities, have complained about the elevators not working, bed bugs and other pests, the lack of security, and several other issues. 

“It’s been really slow … they’re taking their time,” Grier said. 

When giving an update on Crystal Towers during the meeting, Kevin Cheshire, executive director and general counsel for HAWS, said they are handling the repairs in three phases. Phase One includes the complete replacement of both elevators. According to Cheshire, the contract for this project has been awarded to KONE Elevators & Escalators, and each elevator will take about 12 weeks to be replaced. 

“From the time KONE comes in and is on site until the time work is completed, we’re looking at at least 12 weeks of downtime per car so we knew this was going to be at least a 24-week project,” Cheshire said. 

Cheshire said repairs have been slow due to scheduling challenges with KONE. Like many other businesses across the country, KONE, which is based in Charlotte, has experienced labor shortages, but a new installation team was recently assigned to the Crystal Towers project and work is ongoing. 

The first elevator car is expected to be completed mid-November and work on the second elevator car will brgin immediately. 

Phase Two of the Crystal Tower repairs consists of updating and relocating the laundry facility to the first floor, and creating designated spaces for security and service providers. The expected completion time for Phase Two is Oct. 26. 

Phase Three will include a full assessment of the building. Currently HAWS only has a general assessment with a list of capital needs, but a full assessment is needed to determine cost for a complete renovation of the building. 

“Once the elevator work is complete, once the laundry room work is complete, we’re going to look for a design team to go through that building from top to bottom and identify a scope of work,” Cheshire said, “In other words, what will it take to bring this building to a modern status that is sustainable over a long term.”

In 2018 when the building was up for sale, renovation costs for Crystal Towers were around $7 million; today that number is over $10 million. HAWS has already invested about $1 million into the project and will find other ways to fund renovations after the full assessment is complete. The City of Winston-Salem has already agreed to help with renovation costs. 

Before the sale of the building was pulled, Mayor Joines, who is responsible for appointing members to the HAWS Board of Commissioners, and several members of the Winston-Salem City Council, made it known that they didn’t approve of the sale of Crystal Towers because it would’ve displaced hundreds of seniors and individuals with disabilities. 

When discussing the city’s partnership with HAWS, Mayor Allen Joines said, “I am delighted that the City and HAWS have arrived at a strategy to provide critical updates to Crystal Towers. 

“My goal was to preserve affordable housing in the center city and this new initiative will allow us to do so.”