The city will decide in October whether to sell some or all of its 12 affordable-housing properties sprinkled across the island, officials told tenants yesterday.

About 40 residents of the six city-owned affordable housing complexes in Chinatown gathered at the Maunakea Marketplace yesterday to share their concerns and get the facts on the potential sell-off, which would have to be approved by the City Council.

City officials stressed that even if the units are sold, they would have to remain affordable for at least 30 years under a contract agreement with the council.

"All units will stay at the level of affordability they are now," said Cyndy Aylett, who is heading a review of city-owned affordable housing properties and will make a recommendation to the mayor on which ones should be sold and their estimated worth.

Jeff Coelho, city Department of Customer Services director, said there are several reasons why selling off some or all of the properties would make financial sense for the city.

First, he said, the funds from any sales could be used to build more affordable-housing projects. And second, a private or nonprofit entity likely would be better able to respond to a backlog of maintenance concerns at several affordable complexes.

But the prospect of the city selling the properties, even if they remain affordable, worries many residents. Some of the residents wonder what will happen when the affordability requirement ends and whether a private entity will improve conditions.

"I would rather see the city hold on to them," said Connie Geisler, who lives at Winston Hale. "I'm willing to stand up for the building."

Some tenants also used the forum to bring up chronic problems at their buildings, which range from persistent criminal elements to bed bug infestations.

Coelho and Bill Brennan, the mayor's spokesman, said the problems precede the present administration and conditions are the result of years of city neglect. Whether or not the properties are sold, he added, conditions will improve.

"If we keep these buildings, we have to bring them up to standards," Coelho said.

Residents said Mayor Mufi Hannemann could have been doing more during his 18 months in office to clean up the buildings and clear out drug addicts.

Joanne Bosserdet, a resident at Harbor Village in Chinatown, said the common areas at her apartment building are rarely cleaned. "It seems they should have been addressing them," she said. "They have a responsibility."

City Councilman Rod Tam, who called the meeting for residents, said he would like to see the affordable complexes sold to a nonprofit organization, which could keep them affordable beyond the required 30 years.

"We're willing to work together to save affordable housing," he said. "Right now, no decision has been made."

Other than in Chinatown, the city owns affordable housing complexes in 'Ewa, Kane'ohe, Salt Lake, Palama and Manoa. Tam said he would visit some of the complexes in the future to talk to residents about maintenance issues.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.