A community's relentless push to preserve their affordable homes has drawn the support -- and a rare visit -- from a high-ranking official at the federal housing agency.

Lynne Patton, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the New Jersey and New York regional offices for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, toured Newark's Millard E. Terrell Homes on Wednesday vowing that under her watch, the state is "no longer going to be the red-headed stepchild" of the region.

"There's no question that there's an affordable housing crisis in this country," Patton told NJ Advance Media as she walked the 275-unit complex nestled along the Passaic River. "I want to make it clear to the residents that every option is on the table and I'm here to listen to what they want to do."

For years, a group of residents at Terrell Homes have fought off efforts by the Newark Housing Authority to close the federally-funded public housing property.

Their fight has been at the center of Newark's debate over affordability and displacement. How can cities sustain its affordable yet aging housing stock amid shrinking budgets?

The long-neglected complex needs at least $26 million in repairs -- money the Newark Housing Authority says it doesn't have.

But there's new hope Terrell Homes will be saved.

The housing authority's new director, Victor Cirilo, is working on a plan to redevelop the property -- likely adding market-rate units -- so that residents who want to stay, can.

Of the 275 units, 196 are occupied.

"The preservation of our existing housing stock is without question one of HUD's greatest priorities," Patton told NJ Advance Media. "Affordable housing, mixed-income properties are really the future of the affordable housing space."

On Wednesday, tenant leaders led Patton in and out of the three-story buildings showing her the old clothing lines in the courtyards, the bushes that were plucked to deter crime and the newly renovated Riverfront Park, just a few steps away.

"Before the park was here, this whole area was nothing but desolate ... nothing but rats, crazy debris," said longtime resident Rosemary Horsely. "When the park opened up, oh my God, it was so beautiful."

Horsely reminisced about the parties and cookouts neighbors held before the buildings began deteriorating.

"I bet those were good," Patton told residents. "We need to figure out how to bring that sense of community and neighborhood back."

But many of the residents want to leave. Cirilo said of those who responded to a door-to-door survey, only 38 families want to stay. Another 56 want to transfer to another housing authority property and 83 want Section 8 vouchers.

Cirilo said the housing authority will relocate those residents and give them priority should they want to return after the site is redeveloped.

"This building by no means is perfect, the tour today is not a panacea, I think this is a step," said Bill Good of the Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition. "It's important to know and feel and see this community is worth preserving."

Hours after Patton's visit, Cirilo and a team of hired professionals presented a preliminary concept for Terrell Homes dubbed "The Village" that would add more than 75 new units of mixed-income housing.

The proposal, drafted with residents' input, would be phased in and include a senior citizen building and townhouses. The finances for the project are still being developed.

"We're all in this together," Cirilo said. "Attention from HUD absolutely brings a high level of hopes to the folks that are up here and to the redevelopment team as far as financing to whatever plan we come up with."

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.