(a) A housing authority may:

1. (1) prepare, carry out, acquire, lease, and operate housing projects; and
2. (2) provide for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, alteration, or repair of all or part of a housing project.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a housing project may not be built if the average construction cost, exclusive of the cost of land, demolition, and nondwelling facilities, is more than:

1. (1) two thousand dollars ($2,000) per room;

2. (2) ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per room, if the accommodations are designed specifically for persons of low income who:

   1. (A) have attained the age at which they may elect to receive old age benefits under Title 2 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401-433); or
   2. (B) are under disability (as defined in Section 223 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 423)); or
3. (3) any greater amount established by the federal government as the basis for computing any of its annual contributions.

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), if the housing authority finds that:

1. (1) compliance with the cost limitations in subsection (b) would require the sacrifice of sound standards of construction, design, and livability in a project; and

2. (2) there is an acute need for the proposed housing;

   it may exceed the cost limitation that would otherwise be applicable under subsection (b) by not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per room.

   [Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 18-7-11-8(b); 18-7-11-3(o).]

   As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.37. Amended by P.L.309-1989, SEC.1; P.L.255-1996, SEC.27.