xt72v6988w5g https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72v6988w5g/data/mets.xml  United States Housing Authority 1940 v.: ill.; 29-40 cm. UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Library Program libraries and the Federal Information Preservation Network. Call Number FW 3.7: 1/36 journals English Washington, D.C.: Federal Works Agency, U.S. Housing Authority: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. G.P.O. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Works Progress Administration Housing Publications United States Housing Authority -- Periodicals Public housing -- United States -- Periodicals Public Housing: Weekly News from American Communities Abolishing Slums and Building Low-Rent Housing April 16, 1940 text Public Housing: Weekly News from American Communities Abolishing Slums and Building Low-Rent Housing April 16, 1940 1940 2019 true xt72v6988w5g section xt72v6988w5g , . ,, I, . , ' , .
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Vol. 1, Na. 36 Federal Works Agency, U. 3. Housing Authority—Nathan Straus, Administrator April 16, 1940
. C O C 0
Kentucky Housers Time Pralses New Fllm; Memphls PrOJecl Open;
I O 0
Study State Program Chlldbll‘th Tragedles Average Rent $14.46
The Kentucky State Housing Associa— With the opening early this week of
tion, organized in December 1939, has caused by Slums Lamar Terrace in Memphis, Tenn., 108
planned a 3-day State-wide conference in In a recent revier of The Fight for Life, low—income families moved from slum dwell-
Lexington later this month. The first day U. S. Film Service portrayal of childbirth in ings to bright, new homes in a USHA-aided
of the conference will be devoted to the the slums, Time Magazine points out the public housing project. Additional units in
V problems of existing local housing commis- futility of the medial profession’s fight to the project Will 50011 be completed, and 8P-
sions, giving special attention to bringing offset slum conditions. plicants accommodated.
Federal aid to a greater number of Ken— “Because childbirth kills oftenest where The PI‘OJECt provides homes for 478 fam-
tucky cities. The second day’s discussions poverty is greatest, The Fight for Life was ilies who pay an average monthly shelter
will center around the recent action of the shot in a slum clinic, Chicago’s famed Ma- rent Of $14-46 a dwelling. The maximum
Kentucky Legislature in passing five amend- ternity Center . . . The plot . . . is simply income per family at the time Of admission
ments to the State Housing Laws and in the daily struggle of doctors to bring slum ranges from $766 to $968 ayear. The COSt 0f
enacting legislation validating the proce— women and children through childbirth . . . all utilities (electricity for lighting and re-
. ' dure of existing commissions. One new law “Dramatic without ever being theatrical, frigeration, gas for heating and cooking, and
provides for rural housing by county au- it makes even such top-notch Hollywood hot and coldwater) averages $2.90permonth.
thorities, and another authorizes fiduciary medical pictures as Men in White and Dr. Two-story row houses and flats, grouped
institutions to invest in securities issued by Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet seem unreal and around open courts and playgrounds, on
Kentucky housing authorities. stagy . . . what formerly was an area cluttered with
Owensboro, Madisonville, Somerset, Har- “The Fight for Life is above all a studied slum shacks, make up the project. The
3 Ian, Hopkinsville, Richmond, Ashland, and social indictment. The question the Young buildings are of reenforced concrete, brick,
. Bowling Green are Kentucky municipalities Interne raises is: Why go to all this trouble and tile. Equipment includes gas ranges
which have passed or are preparing ordi— to bring babies into the world alive so that and electric refrigerators in kitchens, space
nances for establishing local commissions. they can multiply slums? By raising this heaters in living rooms, and standard
It is expected that Governor Keen John- question and deliberately leaving it unan- plumbing. The estimated over-all cost per
son and one or both of Kentucky’s Senators, swered, the film dramatizes its makers’ be— dwelling is $4,617; the net construction cost
Hon. Alben W. Barkley, of Paducah, and lief that as long as slums and the conditions per dwelling (comprising about the same
Hon. A. B. Chandler, of Versailles, will be that create slums exist all the efforts of all items as the residential construction costs
guests of honor. the doctors are trivial and a little absurd.” compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
on the basis of building permits) is $2,878.
3 f; ,‘M' ; fifth}; .“t'i’fi‘?‘fi, r. . ”gs: * ‘.- ; ' "(93331; tug/g3 j * The Memphis Housing Authority reports
{Est}? ”‘33:”‘j‘ve’ ’“ fjfimwm” “isg‘g‘gagygegflfi that during the past 8 years, only one new
”spirals-i” g; 'V ”33'2”, 33‘ ”xiii-12%;” ”‘17: home has been provided in Memphis for
§§3§s_§§e»§,§( 33W33¥ x’J”? I" 2,..1‘3135’3 every three new families. The long list of
Egg.w - f 2W4: i, ' “5:3,:3: / ’ £3: 3 applicants waiting for vacancies in the two
333.331 #«WW ,4 “75333.; PW A Housing Division projects in Mem-
.‘sfi‘c , “3,3 1, 3 'n' "3"," phis, Lauderdale Courts (449 dwellings
;.“Z§W"%fi‘ fiWfi}? ”if :p ,4 for white families) and Dixie Homes
fiva éswxézél f, ,fiflml' m~:......a ’_ (633 dwellings for Negro families) is, the
.“ “gr/o’ Mmmm .33" A'gg‘”. gxggfig’w . it? authority feels, striking ev1dence of the
foggy?) Wyflsmf": 1,: ii . 3‘: ‘1” z demand for decent housing at a rental low—
MVM ' . “(.W“sfi*’ '3 33g.“ ;J,;-;4;;§’" income families can afford to pay.
«’4'»? W/ ”X”, “Him ’3; gm The Memphis authority has another
“’3 ”’3‘ 3"”3‘?! ”z . ‘3' USHA—aided project underway, to provide
‘3‘ “x ,1 a’f‘3.§g§§§£§§' 4o? o it? ’1 homes for 900 Negro families. First units
, m a. .. >r1‘:&;x i ‘ ’" ’=“ ~a “ ,V are scheduled to be ready for occupancy in
. 1%“; ”3s” rs”« W .,-’ ; ,/\ September. The present Memphis program
“is?” v or“; ‘Gfl‘ix " .9715 " when completed will provide about 2,500
ii‘i’i‘kj“: :‘tis‘r‘i‘fpvi ."‘ 8'". 3: [it w “3‘ -~~ homes for low—income families.
. we . ° ‘ ~ Immediately responsmle for slum clear-
’ a?» 4‘ «mgfimxmfi W W35 3‘ '3 on». ance and low—rent housing in Memphis are
- w -'; w‘yhfimfl ”*3" ' ow 3?? ~ ' ‘t. g‘ a4”; the members of the local housing authority:
.5333?”on “;% $59534?” " [4?“ ’_ 93:2" 1; 7 Chairman, Edward F. Barry; Vice Chair-
.35"? .. «’3... ‘ ’fj’gxififfilw )i’ 9,4: J;- 25... .55" "5* man Ike Gronauer' Secretary Dr H I).
‘3'”: ; “'13" ‘tiwx’f-Wg’ "i; . ”I ’3" 4.....5 .’. - ’- . " ' .'
=3" *2 "‘ -' f ”s33 333%,. ' . Hut, and Commlsslonelsr L- M GIaVGS
. 3 so... “ 231*???“fisg 3 s and Edward M. Knoo-
.. , . , I i the place of Walk C. Jones, Sr., who‘re—
Aerial View taken durlng construction of Lamar Terrace, recently opened signed as Chairman in January of this year
log-unit pI'OjQCt in Memphis, Tenn. 3' after 5 years of faithful service.
" UK LIBRARIES -

 Keyserllng Addresses
Town Hall Luncheon Fences Are Out—Yards Are In
Several hundred delegates, representing By Elbert Peets, USHA Technical Division
more than 50 labor, civic, church, and wel— , ‘9 .. — t 7
fare organizations, meeting at the Town _———————
Hall Club in New York City recently, dis— For years the housers have been divided friends of inclosed yards to exercise their ‘
cussed pending housing legislation. into two hostile camps. Fierce battles have ingenuity in devising forms of inclosure
Addressing the group at a luncheon, Leon been fought between the “fencers” and the that come within the budgetary limitations.
H. Keyserling, Deputy Administrator and “no—fencers.” Now, at last, peace reigns— It can be done. Here are some hints:
Acting General Counsel of USHA, pointed the no-fencers have won. There must be no 1. Use hedges if a cheap hedge material is
out that the $800,000,000 called for in legis— expensive fences to run up first cost and available and your landscape budget will
lation now before Congress, does not repre— maintenance—and hence both rents and allow it. The plants can be spaced out—
sent an expense to the Government. subsidies. Money talks; when an item even if they are 4 to 6 feet apart they will
“To say that the country’s financial wel- means higher rents it has to be something mark the line. Throw a group or a block of
fare is endangered because more housing you can’t do without. yards together and plant a hedge around the
bonds are issued,” said Mr. Keyserling, “is In most projects it will be found that group, leaving it to the tenants to mark the
equivalent to saying that we should view people will want to take care of only one lines betwen the yards.
with alarm larger capital investment in yard. It is in the front courts of row- 2. Spot the clothes posts where they will
automobile plants or food companies or com- house projects that an effect of breadth and help if a tenant wants to plant some flowers
mercial aviation.” openness can best be obtained, with perhaps along the boundary of his yard. In one
Mr. Keyserling said that housing is a a little planting and some sitting-out areas project an additional post, a low one, is
force for unity, one “which can rally the just in front of each house. being set on the boundary line to facilitate
vast majority of people of all groups Whose At the other side of the rows—it is usu— stringing a line, for example, to support
real interests are inseparable from the ally the kitchen side—that is where the good some sweet peas or morning glories.
cause of democracy. old American tradition calls for a patch of 3. Let the tenants put up their own fences.
“Housing . . . is nonpartisan; it is con- ground that is the family’s own-a place This is a very unorthodox suggestion. A
crete and dramatic; it is businesslike; it where the washing can be dried, rugs can lucky and tolerant manager, however, might
helps industry as well as labor, the producer be beaten, babies can absorb ultra—violet be able to keep the tenant-built fences
as well as the consumer, the Nation as well rays, petunias can bloom and tomato Vines within bounds, so to speak, with the help of
as the locality. It thus combines economic bear their appointed fruit, go—carts can be such rules as:
desirability with political feasibility, and parked and bicycles can be greased. (a) Neighbors must agree and cooperate,
these two must be combined if practical peo- In most cities the yard will be the princi- so that yards will be fenced in groups, pref-
ple are to save democracy from the forces pal element of similarity between the proj- erably somewhat uniformly.
which threaten it throughout the world.” ect way of living and the normal—perhaps (b) No fences over 3 feet high. Low
we should say the ideal—way of living of fences look better and don’t dwarf the yards
CULBERT L. OLSON, Governor of Cali— workers’ families. This is important—who so much.
fornia, turning the first spadeful of earth wants to'make the'housing project a com— (0) All fences to be painted dark green
at ground breaking ceremonies for the pletely different thing from the City as a or some. other COIOI‘ agreed on_ by the group.
Ramona Gardens project in Los Angeles whole? ‘ _ _ Use white only on very neat little fences. . ‘
recently, said that he will propose legisla- Above all, an inclosed private yard ls al- 4‘ Don t forget that'poultry nettlng Is the
tion in May which would establish a State “10'?"9 essential to the happiness and normal cheapest and. (wlnle 1t lasts) one ?f the best
Housing Authority to deal with rural socral evolution of children—for whom, fence materials. The. 3—foot Width costs
housing. when you come down to it, housmg projects about 2 cents a running foot. The posts
are built. At the recent Conference on may be 6 or 8 feet apart, and it is absolutely
Children in a Democracy, unanimous ap— necessary to have heavy top and bottom
Recreation Agencies Urged proval was given to a statement that “The wires. The common hairpin lawn fences are
T Aod I’I . A h .. . single-family house with its own yard is un— more expensive but last longer. A really
0 l OHSlng [It 01 “files questionably the best type in which to bring good and really cheap fence is much needed.
Pointing out that public housing is a re— up children.” Perhaps one solution is for the project to
sponsibility shared by many local agencies, Since fences—at any rate high and tight put in low—maintenance long-life posts and
and not the sole problem of any one, the ones, with gates and all—are ruled out, for the tenant to supply and replace some
National Recreation Association recently while yards are not, it is now up to the cheap material that will support vines.
urged its members to participate actively
in the recreational aspects of housing. “It
is most important,” the NRA said, “that for
the sake of effective recreational planning TH E N E E D FO R B ETTER HOM ES a,
close cooperation be maintained between
local housing authorities and public recrea-
tion departments.” The statement prefaced
a brief monograph on housing and recrea— h l
tion prepared by the USHA. UNITS BUMPLETED USHH l
The monograph, designed to make recrea— — '
tion workers more familiar with the USHA
program, lists five opportunities which a
public housing project affords to recreation .
APPLICATIONS lfilfilfilfilfilfilfilfilfiilfilfiilfi
(1) A chalice to plan a recreation pro—
gram for an entire neighborhood. h
' ‘ V' h m .
(2) A‘;I:§tf1::::l:cfigacgf“$; tpioggan? Each complete fl represents |0,000 units completed
participants.
(8) Opportunities for recreation research Each complete m represents l0,000 applications received for units completed
and experimentation. . ‘
(4) A chance to expand the local recrea-
, tlon program. Daia based on reports from 16 cities as of March 30,|94O
(5) A stimulating nucleus for the com—
munity program.
2

 __' —_—_—-——_—_—_ . C .
WM C W 11 T Housmg Exhlblt Draws
. .
anagement OIltaCtS 1t CflantS Thousallds 1n Baltlmore
By Frank Dorman, Buildings Manager, Williamsburg Houses, Presenting the story of slum clearance in
New York Clty Housmg Authority graphic fashion, “before” and “after” ex—
‘ ‘ hibits of the Baltimore housing authority at
ir . The chief contact that we have with the tain regulation and control. But the “col— the annual Better Homes Show, held during
ye tenants in Williamsburg Houses is during lector,” as a management assistant, becomes the week of March 31 at the Fifth Regiment
8. rent collections. an intermediary. Without being intimate, Armory, attracted thousands of Balti-
In spite of a population of 1,622 families, one with the proper aptitude and training moreans.
is the weekly visit of the management assist- can offer advice, give counsel, and at the The story was told simply and effectively
ll ant for the collection of rent becomes as same time unobtrusively protect the inter- by models, photographs, and charts. The
— expected as the regular visits of an old est of the management. It is not easy, but “before” section of the exhibit featured a
ll friend. It has become a part of the daily is made less diflicult because it is expected scale model of what is designated Area K,
3f routine—or weekly routine—of the house— regularly. However, the success of the con- in the authority’s seven—project program.
1e Wife, and so has done away with any feeling tact with the tenant depends largely on the In miniature was reproduced the 17-acre
1e of “intrusion.” caliber of the person serving as manage— area bounded by Eden, Lexington, Fayette,
To go back to days of initial occupancy, ment assistant or rent collector. Bethel, and Orleans Streets, house for house,
11 for the purpose of this article, we experi- Ideally, in a project the size of Williams- block for block.
's enced problems similar to those of most burg Houses, we are able to have abalanced Bertram L. Keyes, a model maker of
to projects under the circumstances. It is no staff, experienced in special fields and, national reputation, working from aerial
is doubt true that the larger the city the less therefore, able to develop among tenants photographs and surveyors’ plats, faithfully
3e opportunity low—income families have had various activities and interests. Because recreated dilapidated row-type houses whose
:t for a familiarity with better living condi— the management assistants, through their walls enclose dark, badly ventilated rooms.
tions. A close contact at first, with the regular contacts with tenants have learn-ed Their run—down high—board fences surround
S. management, means an easier adjustment their interests, have learned what really rubbish-cluttered yards, dilapidated out-
A for the new tenants. Many thingS, besides serves as recreation for a tenant, how they buildings, and outdoor toilet facilities.
it a change of neighborhood perhaps, or the think and react, the management is better From various of the houses red ribbons
as leaving of a former dwelling, are involved. able to offer in recreational and educational lead up to a wallboard background where a
if They get proper instruction on the use of activities, that which is most practical and photograph shows actual conditions within
physical equipment and prompt information effective. In spite of the best intentioned the four walls when the authority took over
e, about many useful things. Management planning in advance, it is difficult for any the property.
E' assistants began visiting apartments from theorist actually to decide what is best for On a table opposite was the “after” model,
the day tenants moved in, and so were on a specific tenant group, along these lines. showing just how the low-rental dwelling
as; hand to answer the many questions; “What Over a 2—year period of operation We have units will appear when they are finished
ls school do I send my little girl to? How do been able to start many activities at the next year.
you bake a cake in an electric oven? Do 1 time they were most effective in filling a It represents the work of James R.
n have to wash the windows? Would there tenant need; demonstration cooking classes, Edmunds III, a member of the authority’s
3. be a hospital clinic in the neighborhood? lectures and displays of furniture, and staff, and shows at a glance how careful
. . Does the key open all the doors? The toilet health talks for educational purposes. planning and arrangement of the buildings
e has water in it all the time and I don’t know Social clubs and special groups become a will transform the slum area into an attrac—
lt how to get it out.” Not all the questions fine management contact in many cases, but tive development to be known as the Fred—
;s were the same—not the same persons asked very ineffective in some ways. There is erick Douglass Homes.
:s the questions—but by listening over a little chance for individual acquaintance ex- The two- and three-story structures will
3’ period of time, management can be aware cept with leaders, and at a time and place contain flats and duplexes, each with their
11 of the extent to which tenants have become usually devoted to recreation. The contact own private entrance. The buildings, rang-
*e adjusted. We come to: “How do we get a we have with tenants, therefore, during the ing from 80 to 140 feet long, are, the model
.V speaker for our club? If I have another collection of rents, becomes by far the most shows, located about landscaped courts.
1- baby, can I get a larger apartment. We effective.
0 want to ask your advice - . - etc.” QueS- “*‘SS 1 ‘
d tions asked, which would not be asked with- w _ 7%, , , 7"“ 3' .. 1 . -
e out a relationship between management j 7777”” 7' iimimm" in g”
and tenant, gained through regular contact. n g7” 7; 7" ”5% 1: E ' 3 . jenny,"
It works both ways. The shoe is often 7‘ 37f .. _, :gficéy
l on the other foot with “the ofl‘ice” needing 35 ”fig...” '7" (t , ‘5‘ : 1. ’ ‘xmnx’ '-
information. Essentially all public hous— ”Effie?” ' 5 ‘ i- 735%" ‘77” Wflnuxflzué‘.
ing developments are concerned with proper "” i ,' * , ' Ed w ' 1,” r“, 3’57 ,- 1.
living standards. If households are dirty, ' ' ‘ '. j . , V J ”W" ~ ‘ “m" ”’,,;.a,
why? If damage is done to property, who , , y _ J , 7"” ,apz, giféai'l
and when? Management needs to have 327”,“ -, . , ’J J :9' -. w ?, 53;
some information which is required, income ,“it , ’ ‘ J ‘ "t 1,... ' .. .v’ , J? "f,
statements and changes in the composition ii ', ,mmm , ,h.“ - ”in” y: j "T ’7
of the family, and some which is informa- '1‘? indwumwm w m- ’4’ M 35—77 fl 3-575
tive such as Vital statistlcs, health, and ”~lgg .. 23.1%”? nag ”mi-max"
education figures, etC- Tenants may be Fhfig‘n’n—m i
encouraged to participate in maintenance, n‘y x “$52an -. «1.. n
to whatever extent it is practical, as in nfimf piyfit‘m :17“ §‘§fi~7 g‘xffifi'W ‘n‘r c-%~z“
. . . M :2:‘:;:::‘:::’:‘:" :1" [:3 ‘”~~-1-” H“ , film ‘ - H.497? n ., v. ”9"\’*
domg their share toward keeping clean the n,“ liner!” 1-1- -&;zgg;:;r.w.;:t-' ' a a 3"; ': W; a. an “(‘4‘ .
public rooms and spaces which they have "f. ‘é‘alwa? ‘ 9%“ $3”; TM '1 .: ' 1 ;. r? ”the,
used, and training their children to have the » ,7“ _f 5‘“ f! :’ ii :77 ml” W 1 ‘ m pal... .. IL A, .-. ....____
proper regard for tidiness in stairhalls and ”WE E J . 3- m.m..... ,.,, . ‘ 1'). U ’ liilllljxllul'l iii}?
grounds. Is all this to be given willingly? ,. X't.iill_f’,'-','."‘" “ill EM l l J I l"’ , ,J, m. :r.... J
It is, if we have developed a feeling of my. fie,” 1- J 7“ 1‘ 7‘ “WK H’i'ld‘fi“ illdé’ll‘wi' 777«‘ In .
. rna.../nnmn~m ,, . . . m -, ta/ 1 .' '
Unconscwusly management takes the awntgjawy’né‘d. . ,2-
piace of the landlord in the minds of tenants age: 2a
in public housing_ There may be fear, or eincegfsc=wm that
antagonism, as naturally there must be cer— “Before and After” exhibit at Baltimore Better Homes Show.
3

 : ,1, ,1, a i , . Western Courts Uphold
a , “fill l l ,, .4? 9 o'u‘fi'i‘" “eel ' e ‘ .
., at to . 1...... . Housmg Leglslatlon
. .,=,fl',;" '2 _ *,,* . .‘ hm“ ~;:r 1“ .',?l'e’"“"'l “Ml“l’mtvm 5
" .. ,, "Kittie “throne The Supreme Courts of Colorado and
fife}: ,— arrhytw Montana recently upheld public housing leg—
J i **»"»C:,,,,W‘I“W .. ,‘ l. aphasia. ;, islation in decisions involving the right of
r'fil'fiili‘lelf‘wfl ,_ eftgrfiéll £533 , local authorities to acquire land by grant
df’fil "" ”,"$I_ lag:wgfiltmfl£fi and condemnation (Colorado) and the va-
» 1' ,e ef,‘-r§,£“ i, are ,‘gfi gglitfifih‘atv lidity of contracts between municipalities
are m” j '3" wt" ere" ' , .. * lee Y - - - ,
Ive ' . We . fifevfirflfittl‘ .yloee . . .e . ,1 “Hetero-«w ”we alid local liousmg authorities (Montana).
"‘ "1a; Wflifit 1, ”or, Ea; my, .M. The Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the
p.11; ""‘ i Mi, . -» swewfifiwwfiw tjéflifi” 1,: ”51,. judgment of a lower court in dismissing the
”we ’ {towefragrfia‘f-"elite? , " firmer p. 1% case of J. E. Stokes, who had questioned
- air-rte ' .... a '"" . a the right of the Dev housing authority to
V . “nifigfii . 7,‘ EW1n$mll£We use public money in the acquisition of land
t” e" t . " rewe esteem by grant and condemnation Stokes had de—
yfiii 5a l twill fail Mw fill;;fifmfie’$m L'Weef manded that the Denver authority show “by ,
3% * Mf‘ mewlwleww“wl%’wfl , el , _ ' ‘- lug; what right it claims to use and enjoy said ‘ .
' 1, etWfifia fixes-y“ ‘ see", , U 3' i“ - , 3 let privileges and franchises.” He refused to
T be: ,i it? .13 met. .3 gage; ,g 7. , . , , in were... accept as satisfactory the authoritys reply
else . Writ solitaire v : th‘goae l . i . ' 1.". “" . d 1 d h‘ It d' ‘ s d
3” Mfmm’léwhfik‘ %?teee.e,i;{vw.e; . ~ g 1.." - ‘3' an appeae IS case. was 1511115 e -
it aywiente .. He then appealed to the State court of last
. ,. ‘7 fl 51'4"? “.12 Ni» ' ”P ’* afieegmiszfitfie file‘s ”pi", resort, where the decision of the lower court '
1.: 7»: 17. a I 7 l ' 3" ' i ._ i M. ‘ was affirmed. The Supreme Court pointed
Noi all New Yon-ls Siaie slums are in New standard housing, from the 1940 Report of 0‘.“ that the authority was acting in accord ‘
Y k C‘ - A ~ -ll ‘1) ' ~ h I] 6 St to su erinlendent of Housinrr Wlth State legISIatlon and was thelefme
or II). smd town conlrl ulmn to su - 1 a p ,__. justified in its activities.
. - - A The Montana Supreme Court issued at the
Ne Ye State HOUSng SuPt- inadequate water supply, fir? hazards, dilap request of the Great Falls Housing Author-
idation and general undeSIrability are as ‘t ‘t f d d . th C't '
Issues 1940 Annual RCPOI't bad, in many instances, as the worst condi- 1 y, a Wu 0 man amus, Ior ering 1e 1 'V
- - . - - - of Great Falls to fulfill its obligations as
. tlons 1n the larger c1t1es. The chief reason . . .
The recently Issued 1940 Report of the - , - - - set forth in a cooperation agreement With
. . that this pioblem has received little, if any, . .
New York State Superintendent of Housmg . . - - the Great Falls Housmg Authority. In the .
. . attention in the past is the fact that in these .
gains added interest from the fact that New - - agreement, the City had contracted to vacate
. . . smaller communities the problem usually . ,,
York is the only State where public housmg . - - . certain streets and alleys and to rezone the .
. involves only a handful of families. It is . . .
can be financed by 1the State itself. Under . . lands incorporated m the Great Falls PTOJ-
. . obv10us that the large scale type of prOJect ,,
the Public Housmg Law of 1939, the State . . ,. . - ect When requested to do so. The request
. . . which now characterizes the public housmg . .
Superintendent (now Commiss10ner) of . . . . . was made In January 1940, and the crty
. . . ,, . program in large Cities 18 not appropriate .
Housing is authorized to enter into con- . . . . . refused to comply, challenging the status
. . . . . for these small communities. The DiViSion . . ,
tracts to lend muniClpalities or housing au- . . . . . . of the Great Falls Housmg Authority. The
. . . of Housing is making an intenswe study ,, . .
thorltles a sum not exceeding the develop— . . . . . court found that the c1ty counc11 of the
. . both With respect to eXisting housmg condi- . . .
ment cost of low—rent housmg progects to be . . . . City of Great Falls, Since it regularly au-
. . . ,, ,, ,. tlons in small communities and the best . . .
repaid Withln 50 years, to borrow $100r - - - thorlzed the Great Falls Housmg Authority,
. . , . , ,, ,, methods of dealing With the problem in all . . .
000,000 by issuing hous1ng bonds, and to . ,, must comply With the prOVlsions of the Act
,, . its aspects. . . . . . ,,
make annual grants, to achieve low rents, E insofar as their cooperation 15 required.
the amount 0? the grant to be matched by Fort Smith College Students The dec1s10n of the Colorado court was
the munic1pahty. L 1H . S the first test of public housmg legislation
Mr- Edward Weinfeld’s report analyzes Conduct 00a OllSlng urvey in that State. The Montana Supreme Court
this legislation, and describes the first proj— Junior college students in Fort Smith, had twice previously upheld the State hous-
ect to be financed by the State—New York Ark., began a housing survey of Fort Smith ing laws. At present, courts of last resort '
City’s 8,528—dwelling-unit Navy Yard Proj— recently for the local housing authority. in 22 States have upheld housing legislation.
ect. It also discusses the need for housing, Royal S. Curry, of the college faculty, is ,
pointing out that “the construction of 1,031,- acting as field supervisor. The survey will
000 dwelling units . . . would be required collect information on race, occupation, Schedule of Bld Opening Dates1
to relieve the shortage of suitable dwell— size, and income of Fort Smith families, as m
ings” in New York State. well as on structural condition, value, and Locqlautl10rj[,y and project Numher Date of bid
In his conclusion, Mr. Weinfeld empha— rentals of various types of residential number 0‘ ”H115 ‘ Ol’omng
sizes the small town housing problem. structures throughout the city. The survey a— ,“
“In the smaller Villages, housing conditions offers the students an'excellent educational Bii'iiiinglialll (Ala—1+
eXist which, from the standelnt of proiect, and Will prOVlde the local housing 4—K)._,.,___,__-_..-___..__ 480 4-25—40
overcrowding, lack of sanitary conveniences, authority with invaluable information. Chester (Pa.—7—1)...-..._ 396 4—30—40
Cincinnati (Ohioi4—l)___ 750 4—25410
. Deliver (Colo.—1~2)...... 346 5— 2—40
Weekly Constructlon Report Detroit (Mien—14,
a Pt. II)_._.____.__,______._ 92 5+ 7~4O
110m Wonk (-ndcrl 1 Walk ended Percentage DClII‘Olt (MlCh.—l—2,
’ April 5. 1940 March 29. 1040 change Pt. II) ______________7_____ 183 4h24_40.
, _ "7 Hclcna (Mont.—4~1)..... 72 5+ 3e40-
' Number of progects under construction,.___._.____,,, 193 190 +1.58 McComb (Miss._3a2)__ 90 5a 1-40
Number of dwellings under construction."min...“ 74,279 73,835 +0.60 -
Total estimated over—all cost 1 of new housing______, $330,955,000 $329,516,000 +0.44 Nashville (Teliii.+5—l)__ 350 449‘40,
Average over-all cost 1 of new housing per unit_,_,,, $4,456 $4,463 +0.16 New York CitV (N. Y. -
Average net construction cost 9 per unit____,____,,,,__ $2,796 $2,801 —0.18 543)______‘____”___"__7_"_ 1, 170 4-30410
a SallAntonio (Tcx.~6—4-).‘ 236 5~ 2410
1Includes: (a) Building tlll‘ llousu. including structural costs and plumbing, healing. and electrical installation: ((7)
(lwvlliluv equipment, arcllitocts’ foes, local administrative (expenses. financial cllargl-s (lurinl.v construction, and contingency ‘3
expenses; (0) lzmd for present (lm‘clopnlcnt: (I!) nondwclling facilities. 1 There is usually ll 30-day pcriorl bctu'ccn bid advertising .
‘-’ The cost of building the house. including,v structural, plumbing, heating, and electrical costs. and hid opcning.
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Material for PUBLIC HOUSING should be addressed to Informational Service Division, U. S. Housing Authority, Washington, D. C.
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