9. As evidenced by their letters of approval, referred to in item 8, both the mayor and the planning board, after reviewing housing conditions in this locality, are on record as favoring development of a low-income housing program. 10. Prior to the war a cooperation agreement had been executed with the city for 1. Payments in lieu of taxes in amounts not to exceed sums authorized under current policies applicable to the low-rent housing program. 2. Equivalent elimination in connection with the proposed program as required under the United States Housing Act of 1937 as amended. Due to several local factors and the war emergency this program was suspended. The local authority believes that it will be possible to obtain a similar agreement under present needs. 11. Wartime changes in the community: (a) The war has slightly increased the need for housing due to the location of the northeast air base, known as Westover Field, and the presence of a few new industrial plants which have all the indications of thriving in the postwar period. It is not anticipated that there will be any extensive decrease in the population after the war. (b) The method of analysis presented in part II will, we believe, produce reasonably valid information as to the poswar need for low-rent public housing. CHICOPEE PLANNING COMMISSION, City of Chicopee, Mass., January 11, 1945. HOME OF WESTOVER AND EXPANDING INDUSTRIES Mr. PAUL GEISSLER, Chicopee Housing Authority, Chicopee, Mass. DEAR MR. GEISSLER: The Chicopee Planning Board have gone on record in favor of low-cost housing projects in Chicopee which are to be constructed during the postwar period. The planning board, however, wishes to have the local housing authority present its opinions and views as to locations at the public hearings to be held throughout the year on rezoning the city. Thanking you, I am as ever Yours truly, Anthony J. Pimentel, PART II. NEED FOR LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROPOSED 3-YEAR PROGRAM 1. Area to which data in part II apply: Limits of the city of Chicopee, Mass. 2. Total present supply of family dwellings, excluding temporary public war housing: (a) Supply on Apr. 1, 1940: (1) Tenant-occupied. (2) Owner-occupied. (3) Vacant (racial distribution estimated). (c) Housing existing on Apr. 1, 1940, which has since been demolished or taken out of housing use: (1) Standard units. (2) Substandard units. PART II. NEED FOR LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROPOSED 3-YEAR PROGRAM-continued 3. Total present substandard family dwellings, excluding temporary public war housing (Negroes so scattered that no districts or even individual buildings can be assigned as being Negro): 4. Total present vacancies in substandard housing, excluding temporary public war housing... 5. Number of families now living in substandard housing, excluding fam- 6. Percentage distribution of gross rentals, including all utilities, in $3 to $4. $5 to $6. $7 to $9 $10 to $14. $15 to $19. $20 to $24. $25 to $29. $30 to $39 $40 to $49 $50 to $59 $60 to $74. $75 to $99. $100 and over. Total... 7. Families living in substandard housing and paying gross rents or (a) Lowest gross monthly rents at which new average-sized standard (2) Additional monthly cost to tenants for utilities not in- (3) Gross monthly rent (7 (a) (1) plus 7 (a) (2)). (b) Lowest gross monthly rental equivalent at which new average- (2) Monthly rental equivalent without utilities. (4) Gross monthly rental equivalent 7 (b) (2) plus 7 (b) (3) - Opinion of local housing authority and building department. Water rent included. PART II. NEED FOR LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROPOSED 3-YEAR PROGRAM-continued (d) Monthly rent, or rental value, below which the market for lowrent public housing for average-sized families lies, allowing a 20 percent margin of safety below the rental amounts shown in item 7 (c) in order to further avoid any possibility of competition with private enterprise... Corresponding shelter rent for white, $24; nonwhite, $0. 8. Number of vacant units of standard housing available to families (a) Lowest average monthly gross rent for all rent grades.. (c) Percent of families in substandard housing with gross rents or (d) Number of such families (item 5 times percents in item 9 (c)) - 10. Families in the low-rent public housing market: (a) Number of families (item 5 less 7 (f), 8, and 9 (d)).. (6) Number of families as percent of total present supply (item (c) Number of families as percent of all families living in sub- 11. Public housing which will become or may become available to serve (a) Low-rent public housing temporarily converted to war use (PA 412W and PA-671): (1) Total dwellings.. (2) Less number of present tenants who will probably be (3) Number of dwellings which will become available as low- (b) Other public war housing which the local authority would want to (2) Less number of present tenants who will probably be eligi- (3) Number of dwellings which may become available as low- (c) Low-rent public housing units under contract with PPHA but not (d) Total dwellings (sum of items 11 (a) (3), 11 (b) (3), and 11 (c)).. 12. Net number of additional low-rent public housing units needed to accommodate families in the low-rent public housing market (item 10 (a) less 11 (a)). 13. Number of low-rent public housing units which the local authority contemplates in the 3-year program for which an allotment of funds is hereby requested: (a) Number of dwellings. (b) Number of dwellings as percent of total present supply (item PART II. NEED FOR LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING AND PROPOSED 3-YEAR PROGRAM-continued 15. Rents in proposed 3-year program and incomes of average-sized families to be served: 14 rooms-2 bedrooms. PART III. GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND COST OF PROJECTS TO BE BUILT UNDER THE PROPOSED 3-YEAR PROGRAM 1. Changes to be made based on past experience: The local authority has not developed any public housing projects to date but have in mind the inclusion of the following items in the construction of its public housing program: (a) Design of dwellings.-Each dwelling should have an incinerator with hopper doors accessible from inside the building rather than outside. More space should be provided in each closet with doors rather than curtains. The open kitchen shelving has been found objectionable. Separate dining space apart from the kitchen is also desirable. Adequate storage space for each dwelling unit is recommended. (b) Construction materials. As much fireproof material as is possible should be used in the construction not only for economy of maintenance, but also for permanence and durability. (c) Heating system.-A central heating system to furnish heat and hot water to the 250 dwelling units is also recommended. 2. Number of individual projects in proposed 3-year program: The local authority program to date entails the construction of one project of 250 units for white families exclusively. 3. Type of site anticipated: It is recommended that the site now owned by the Federal Government, known as Curtis Terrace, and upon which a temporary war housing project has been built, be used for the construction of this 250 dwelling unit project. The proposed site contains 20 acres and is situated in the central portion of the city, with shopping center, schools, and industries within easy reach. 4. Types of structures: Row houses made up of four and six apartments per dwelling are contemplated. 99279-47-30 5. Density: The local authority does not have any definite recommendations to make in regard to density, but will leave that question for further study and research. 6. Size of dwellings: The following proportions of bedrooms size units are recommended in the construction of the projects in the proposed 3-year programs; 7. Community facilities: It is the intention of the authority in the development of its future postwar low rent housing projects to include adequate community facilities such as small play areas adjacent to the structures for use of preschool children whose mothers demand that they play in the vicinity of their dwelling. It is hoped, however, that for the teen age children a large centrally located playground can be provided for organized play activities. It is proposed that the projects would be provided with a combined management and community building which will have provisions for à large assembly hall and small social rooms in addition to space for health clinics, nursery, library, and so forth, all in proportion to the needs and size of each project. 8. Total development cost of projects: (a) Total development cost per unit by types of sites: On vacant land... On semivacant land. On slum land....... (b) Average total development cost per unit under 3-year program_ $1,250,000 5,000 1,250,000 Senator BUCK. This concludes the hearings on S. 866 and other related housing bills. (Thereupon at 12:35 p. m., the committee adjourned upon the call of the chairman.) (The following were later received for the record:) NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, Washington 25, D. C., March 27, 1947. The CHAIRMAN, UNITED STATES SENATE Banking and CURRENCY COMMITTEE, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In view of the "agitated" statement made before your committee yesterday by a representative of the National Home and Property Owners' Foundation, you may be interested in the accompanying report of the National Capital Housing Authority. Because the witness presented figures purporting to deal with local public housing in the District of Columbia I hope you will check them with the section of this report entitled "Finance and Accounts" (p. 22), and especially the data on page 24. Among other pertinent items are NCHA's Financial Objective (p. 4) and NCHA's Rent System, Permanent and Low-Rent Housing (p. 5). The kind of doleful forecasting in which this witness indulged has been familiar since the attack upon public housing began back in 1943. (See footnote on p. 5.) Though granted three successive opportunities during hearings that extended over a full year, the opponents of public housing failed to substantiate their assertions. This letter is submitted for the record, and the report (National Capital Housing Authority, Annual Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1946) is for the official files of the committee. Sincerely, JOHN IHLDER, Executive Officer. (Annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1946, is on file with the Senate Banking and Currency Committee.) |