Articles

• https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/arts/design/radical-plans-for-public-housing-stir-up-hope-and-doubt.html?searchResultPosition=1

To Understand

• The Housing Act of 1936 placed the responsibility of public housing in local hands - When Public Housing Worked
• The Housing Act of 1949

Motivations

• public health
• shortage of decent, affordable housing,
• failure of limited-dividend projects to reach the lowest-income renters
• employment possibilities

Key Issues

• Site selection

  • high land costs dictate high buildings on any slum site in New York City - When Public Housing Worked

• Tenant selection

• Costs

• Competition with Private Developers

• What provisions?

  The New York Times reported in 1934 that Post Predicted that ‘the work of the Municipal Housing Authority will go far beyond the mere purchase of land and erection of model dwelling structures’ to include ‘the operation and management of the communities created’

Model Housing

• Tenants at Harlem River Houses and other early developments were carefully selected and few tenants on public relief or welfare found berth - Source