Evening star., 1941-03-23
Community Planning
Is Urged by Board
After Research
Report Soys Freedom
From Overerowdine
Is Greatest Advantage

After a study OF IA communities
of the United States constructed ac-
cording to pre- e-determined physical
plan, the National Resources Plan
ming Board advised in a report re-
leased yesterday that agencies in
position to do so should bend every
effort to promote community plan
ming.
In the light of the general sue
cess of these communities, as de-
termined by the study. the board
further urged that similar planning
methods be applied generally in es-
tablished urban areas as a means
to remedy the ills and problems of
urban environment and existence.
Freedom from overcrowding of
both buildings and population was
cited as the greatest advantage of
communities so laid out.
The report concludes the work of
the Urbanism Committee of the Ma
tional Resources Committee and
supplements reports on Our Cities"
and urban Government" already
published. Members of this group
include Clarence A. Dykstra, chair
man; M. L. Wilson. Louis Wirth,
Louis Brownlow, Arthur C. Comey,
Harold D. Smith and Charles w.
Eliot.
Majority Sound and Stable.
One phase of the study. under the
direction of Prof. Comey of Harvard,
concerned communities developed by
industry, Government agencies, real
estate interests and philanthropic
organizations, some of which were
isolated towns, satellite or suburban
communities and neighborhoods
within existing cities.
The report revealed that of II
communities established by industry
with view to providing a stable
labor supply or access to materials,
markets or power, majority were
notably sound and stable, providing
means of livelihood for the in
habitants. Their location and con-
struction, it was pointed out, were
based on sound economics and a
comparatively thorough analysis of
the problems involved. Stability of
industry was found to be the most
factor in their success,
while instability was the most i'm
portant cause of their failure.
Planning new communities in
America has succeeded in prevent
ing, or at least in postponing, many
of the difficulties and problems so
familiar in the ordinary unplanned
city" the report stated. These
planned communities. largely as a
result of forethought expressed
through their planning, are COM
free from overcrowding
of buildings and population Their
inhabitants enjoy greater efficiency,
greater safety and a more healthful
and, in a very great measure, a
more attractive environment"
Community Spirit.
Many of these communities, the
study further revealed, exhibit an
high degree of social CO.
hesion and community spirit, and
deterioration through obsolescence
is greatly reduced
Under conditions of long time
unified CONTROL" the board con-
cluded, intelligent planning may
be expected to be effec-
tive as tool in the hands of those
for community welfare in
the ills and conflicts of
purposes and interests otherwise
likely to occur in the development |
and continued existence of future
new and enlarged communities.
This planning, it was explained.
can be done by variety of agencies,
private, real estate, phil
or governmental, but the
factor is continuity of the
agency in control.
A second section of the report
deals with urban living conditions.
and the urban community. This is
by Harold S. Buttenheim, editor of
The American City.