Main Square Apartments tenant Casandra Johnson found it 'shocking" that she will be forced to move from her home following the city's decision to demolish her apartment building to make way for the relocation of the D.D. Collins House.

Johnson, who has been living in a two-bedroom unit in the apartment building with her 9-year-old son for eight years, said she thought it was wrong that she was not notified before the news was made public.

"I think we should have known first so we can get things going and know what to do," Johnson said.

Under state and federal law, the city is required to assist tenants like Johnson with moving expenses, replacement housing and relocation and planning services. The city of Collinsville has hired St. Louis-based real estate consultants Community Program Development Corp. to provide the relocation services.

"What that firm does is assist them in finding comparable housing in the area and we actually help them with the costs as well," said Uptown Collinsville Coordinator Leah Joyce.

By law, displaced tenants have a minimum of 90 days to relocate after receiving written notice and are not required to move "unless at least one comparable replacement dwelling has been made available," according to the federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Act.

But for now, that news isn't comforting to Johnson. The single mother had just found a new job as a day care worker and now she feels there is uncertainty in her family's future.

"I don't know where we're going to go," she said.

Contact reporter Ramona C. Sanders at 618-344-0264, ext. 136