WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Housing Authority is waiting to learn whether it will receive state funding to start the redevelopment of one of its oldest properties. It's also planning on where they'll relocate residents during construction.

The 202-unit Lakeside Apartments complex was built in 1949. The proposed changes include increasing that number to nearly 350 over four phases.

CEO Alex Corrales is hopeful they'll hear from the state about the funding within the next month.

He said they would then immediately start relocating residents, with a goal of moving as many as possible to other WHA properties.

Corrales said Worcester is in desperate need of more affordable housing.

“We’ll start with looking at the current portfolio,” said Corrales. “We are the largest landlord. We do have 3,000 apartments, we just don’t have the turnover to create all we need in a very short amount of time. It can take months. It can take three, six, eight months to relocate every individual that needs to be relocated. We’ll certainly move as fast as we can, but it's all contingent on our application being approved."

Corrales said the project is ready to go and they just need the funding to get started.

The Worcester Housing Authority is also hoping to redevelop the Curtis Apartments, and increasing the number of units there from 372 to 527.