RALEIGH -- The city will relocate more than 30 people from an apartment complex in Southeast Raleigh because of health risks from mold found in the basement.
 
Residents at New Horizon Apartments, which the city owns as part of its stock of lower-cost housing, have been told the city will assist them financially.
 
Pointing to a green patch near the basement stairs, resident Mike Graham said, "It used to be on this wall and you could see it outside. They don't know if it's harmful or not."
 
Raleigh bought the 33-year-old complex on Peterson Street, just off Garner Road, in 1995. It has 60 one-bedroom units; 33 are occupied.
 
The city's relocation policy pays moving expenses and will help residents find comparable housing. If it can't be found, Raleigh will pay up to $3,000 per household to help offset costs.
 
That would bring the city's relocation cost to more than $100,000, but City Manager Russell Allen said he doubted it would run that high.
 
This plan suited Graham, but he said he plans to attend a Thursday meeting at Chavis Community Center to learn more.
Graham, 54, said he is a dialysis patient and will miss living in New Horizon because of the easy access to bus routes.
"It don't make no difference to me as long as they take care of me," said Graham, who has lived at New Horizon for three years.
 
It isn't known whether the mold has spread into the apartments, Allen said. Testing will continue, and after the complex is vacant, an estimate to clean and repair it will be prepared.
 
New Horizon is managed and maintained by Barker Realty Inc., which told city staff about the mold in August. The problem came to light through routine maintenance, Allen said.
 
The City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday to put the city's relocation policy into effect. Councilman Mike Regan voted no.
 
"I don't think we should be paying people to live in the apartments in the first place -- to subsidize that," he said. "I just don't think it's the government's job to contribute to the charity of its choice."
 
The city still owes $383,592 on the property. Regan urged the council to investigate selling it.
 
Councilman James West urged a humane approach.
 
"I hope we'd be a bit more compassionate," he said, "instead of looking at the bottom line all the time."
 

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