Unless the city builds more public housing in non-minority neighborhoods, it could face prosecution.

By 2002, the Jacksonville Housing Authority must have tenants living in 75 public housing units in non-minority neighborhoods.

One of the areas officials are considering is Argyle Forest on the westside, where an apartment complex is scheduled to be built by Vestcor.

"Vestcor is a route we're exploring," Jacksonville Housing Authority president Ronnie Ferguson says. "It would provide us with 84 units in their development. Where we're at right now, we've got to find out the myriad of details."

Vestcor's 336-unit apartment complex is scheduled to be built on Youngerman Circle.

If the deal goes through, 84 of those units will be leased by the Jacksonville Housing Authority.

That will create a mix of economic backgrounds. Something Ferguson says will be beneficial.

"The Vestcor deal offers us the opportunities of mixed income development," Ferguson says. "People benefit by having people of different incomes in a community as occurs naturally in most neighborhoods."

Eyewitness News' Staci Spanos says that while the housing authority has to abide by the law, it must also contend with homeowners who may be less than thrilled that public housing is going up in their neighborhood.

Jason Bushnell bought his Argyle Forest duplex as an investment. If public housing is built, he worries that property values could go down.

"I'd be a little scared," Bushnell says. "I'd have to see it. I think I would think about selling my house."

But Ferguson, who grew up in Jacksonville's public housing, says that people need to get rid of the notion that public housing tenants are bad people.

"The fact is we can't be embarrassed or afraid of housing the poor," Ferguson says. "Poor people are no different than the rest of us. They just happen to be poor."

By the year 2006, the housing authority must come up with a total of 225 units.