An apartment complex planned for Fort Lauderdale’s Middle River Terrace neighborhood that would cater to low-income families has not gone over well with residents.

“We need to know more,” said Doug Sterner, president of the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations.

Sterner and other area residents are asking for more details about the planned complex that is one of several properties around the county supplied by the Broward County Housing Authority.

Sterner said he worries that the “affordable housing” term is just a government designation for properties that could house troubled people, such as halfway houses, rehabilitation centers and other group homes.

“When we say we’re skeptical of low-income housing projects, we’re asked: ‘Don’t you want to help people?’” said Marge Anderson, a Middle River Terrace resident and secretary of the community association.

The project would be a new complex on the southeast corner of Dixie Highway and Northeast 17th Terrace. Apartments would be rented to people on the basis of their income, said Kevin Cregan, chief executive officer of the Broward Housing Authority.

Cregan also said the complex will not be a social services facility, a halfway house, a drug rehabilitation center or any kind of group home.

The project is the latest in a series of properties the Housing Authority has built during the past four years, including Crystal Lake Apartments in Hollywood and Highland Gardens and Tallman Pines in Deerfield Beach. To qualify for the new apartments planned for Middle River terrace, renters must have a yearly income below $72,000.

Cregan said the Housing Authority — at the civic association’s urging — has submitted written assurance to the city that the project will not offer social services to its tenants.

“It’s up to us now to monitor the promise,” said Tim Smith, president of the community association. “We’re fed up with it, and planning on taking action.”

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK! GO AHEAD, BECOME A FAN. Just click.