They have lived so long in the ageing terraces of Albert Row and Victoria Terrace that they are unsure of exactly how long it is since they moved in.

Now they could all be moving out together if the newly revealed plan for 100 affordable rental homes further along the road, as envisaged this week by Housing Minister David Burch, comes to fruition.

Inez Curtis arrived at Albert Row more than 40 years ago. But whether it was the 1960s or earlier she is unsure.

Likewise neighbour Frank Johnson, now 83, is sketchy about how long he has been a resident of the terraces in Ireland Island South, but when he moved in there were only five other residents and the rent was $8.10.

While Ivan Landy ,76, has looked out from his Albert Row home for something like 30 years. They, together with their neighbours, are in line to be moved to new affordable homes earmarked for nearby Cochrane Road. Conceptual drawings of how the 100 new homes might look were unveiled by Sen. Burch this week. And a pledge to appoint a project manager in early 2007 to move the scheme forward has also been made.

On the whole the new housing has been welcomed by residents although there is concern that seniors ? and there are many living in the two terraces ? will have difficulty climbing stairways to reach the second floor apartments as sketched in the released images of the proposed new housing.

Leaving the increasingly dilapidated terraces will be a bitter-sweet moment for some residents who are fond of their long-time homes, even though the hurricane-damaged roof now lets in rain during the heaviest downpours and the electrical wiring needs to be replaced.

Once everyone has moved out the plan is to demolish Victoria Terrace completely. Sen. Burch said he would like to do the same to Albert Row but that terrace has protection through ?listed? status.

The day after the Housing Minster revealed further details of the projected new housing scheme, Inez Curtis enjoyed the sunshine from her front porch and spoke of what it has been like to live in the old terrace.

?The area is nice. There is a beach below the hill. It is like a small community and everyone is friendly, but the homes are quite old now,? she said.

?These buildings are deteriorating with termites and we?ve started to see the little roaches which we never had here before.?

Her son Marvin points to the roof, which in places has been peeled back as a result of Hurricane Florence. He said landlord Wedco had taken down the guttering that surrounded the roof and not replaced it, which had allowed the strong winds to whip in and lift the edges of the roof.

As a result rain is able to get in during the heaviest downpours and caused the wall covering in the upstairs bedrooms to peel. The rainwater has also damaged the electrical wires and corroded some light fittings.

Mrs. Curtis said: ?Yes, the water gets in when there is a hard rain. But the area here is nice and quiet and these is a bus stop across the road to get to the shops. Most of the people have lived here for a number of years. If they fixed up the place I would not mind living here again.?

Asked what she thought of the proposed new housing she said: ?It?s good. I don?t mind moving out. But I would prefer to move into a flat.?

Former Gibbs Hill lighthouse keeper Frank Johnson has lived in Albert Row for many years and recalls that there were only five residents in the terrace when he moved in and the rent was When he was younger he remembers doing some of the electrical wiring for the terraces.

Like his neighbour Mrs. Curtis he also describes the area as being a pleasant and quiet place to live, with shops in Somerset village easily accessed by bus. He would be happy to move out to a new place.

Ivan Landy, 76, who lives a few doors further along and said: ?This is a great place with a beautiful environment and people who live around here are all halfway descent. It is a joy to live here, there is water at the back and on the other side so you have fresh air and fishing.

?The wiring and plumbing has outlived itself in the house and we are dealing with deterioration.?

However, Mr. Landy lost a leg in a motorbike accident in 1958 and is somewhat concerned about the idea of moving into a new home that requires him to walk up a stairway to a first floor apartment.

He said: ?On the diagrams they?ve shown there are staircases but that is no good for me or others who are disabled or seniors. As people grow older their ability deteriorates. Government has to come up with something different.?

According to Sen. Burch the residents of Albert Row and Victoria Terrace will be given first choice of the new homes in Cochrane Road once completed, and the remaining homes ? projected to be around 76 units ? will then go to those on the Bermuda Housing Corporation list.