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The City of Asbury Park Housing Authority on Tuesday announced the organization’s standing has raised.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] now considers the agency to be “standard.” For the past several years, it has been listed as a substandard troubled organization by HUD, but has consistently improved in its grading since entering into an interlocal management agreement with the City of Long Branch Housing Authority agency in July of 2012, according to a news release from the agency.

“This is a true testament to the dedication and hard work of the Board of Commissioners and staff of both the City of Asbury Park and Long Branch Housing Authorities,” Executive Director Tyrone Garrett said in the release. “I see no reason why the agency won’t be considered ‘high performing’ within the next two years.”

HUD’s performance ratings fall into three categories, with 90 percent and above considered “high performance,” 60 percent to 89 percent considered standard performance and below 60 percent considered substandard or troubled. There is no higher status than “high performing.”

Chairwoman Angela Brown attributes the raise to a joint effort between residents, city officials, the Asbury Park Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Long Branch Housing Authority Officials and HUD officials.

“Everyone is more aware of what’s going on, it’s been a collaborative effort — with a lot of prayer,” she told the Sun Wednesday. “and I prayed a lot.”

In her 15 years serving on the Board of Commissioners, Brown said she has seen 11 executive directors come and go.

“It’s been a rocky road,” she said.

Daniel Gibson, chief of staff for the Long Branch Housing Authority, credits the improvement to good management and cooperation between the administration and board of commissioners, he told the Sun.

“The trajectory is pointing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep our shoulders to the grind wheel and we’ll get there,” he said.

The agency recently submitted a bid to HUD’s Special Application Center in Chicago seeking sufficient capital to overhaul three senior homes owned by the city’s housing authority  —Lumley Homes, the Robinson Towers and Comstock Court — and for the $1.3 to $1.7 million needed to demolish the now-vacant Boston Way Village housing complex [shown above].

“Once we demolish Boston Way, there will be no stopping the housing authority then,” Gibson said.

Both the renovation plans for the senior buildings and ground-up units slated to be built on the Boston Way site will be presented to the public on Dec. 11, he said, as the hallmarks of Executive Director Garret’s style are transparency and involvement — from the commissioners to residents in the community.

The location and time of the meeting is forthcoming.

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