November 16, 2022

STATEMENT ON THE HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) DECISION

TO CLOSE THE CONNELL SMITH APARTMENT BUILDING

The Connell Smith High Rise Apartments in Cairo, IL

(The following letter was sent to all of Cairo's Illinois state and national elected officials/representatives)

”As the board of The Cairo Historical Preservation Project, Inc., we add our voices to the rising community concern over the unexpected closing of the Connell Smith senior citizen apartment building in downtown Cairo, Illinois owned by HUD.

The proposed demolition of another of our city’s older structures is most alarming, and we strongly advocate that a pathway be found to preserve this 55-year-old building.

But of far more importance is the heartbreaking plight of the senior citizens and individuals with various disabilities who are being forced so quickly to relocate. These 53 families are the unfortunate victims of this building closure. For some, this is the second relocation in five years, and the most likely result will be relocation out of Cairo altogether.

It’s shocking that City of Cairo officials did not receive any advance notice from HUD of this important development and no meetings were scheduled with the Alexander County Housing Authority resident council. In fact, no public or private meetings of any kind were held to allow the residents and state and local officials more time to respond. How ironic is it that HUD’s mission, as listed on their website, is “to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all?”

We stand in solidarity with our elderly residents and people with various disabilities, and urge you to do all that is within your power to encourage HUD, state and local entities, and the private sector to

1. Immediately bring in temporary, emergency housing for these residents while the permanent plan details are finalized, i.e. evaluating options to construct affordable housing on current HUD-owned vacant properties in Cairo.

2. Partner with private developers and provide incentives for the development and construction of new homes and affordable housing.

3. Urge HUD to reconsider altogether their decision to demolish the Smith building, yet another Cairo historic structure sadly slated for destruction.

As a preservation group, it is our stated focus to protect the historical resources of our city for future generations. But we cannot stand by silently as our most valuable resource, our citizens, are being forced against their will to leave their chosen home.

We support a two-pronged action plan that will allow these vulnerable citizens, in HUD’s own words, to remain a “strong and sustainable” community without leaving Cairo, while also working to save the historic Smith building from destruction.

Board of Directors
The Cairo Historical Preservation Project, Inc.”