Greenbelt cooperator., 1942-02-06
CO-Ops In Spotlight
In Congressional
Housing Study
By JOHN CARSON
Washington Representative,
The Cooperative League

Inc senate committee on Edu-
cation and Labor reported the
Lanham Bill this week. This bill
authorized the expenditure of
another 100000, 900 for defense
housing and $150,000,OOO for COM
munity development. Behind the
committee work on this bill was
bitter battle-ground on which
government housing administra-
tors struggled for position, where
official heads totered and lobbics
resounded with the arguments of
various forces.
There is reason to believe that
the sudden interest in "co-opera-
tive" housing has developed be-
cause Of the tremendous publIci-
ty given to the mutual housing"
projects launched by Col. Law
renee Westbrook and his former
superior, John Carmody, once
administrator of the Federal
Works Agency. Westbrook has pro-
moted nine mutual housing" pro-
Jects. Three are established, one
at Camden, N. j., and two at
Dallas, Texas.
Eventual Coop Ownership
Seen
Westbrook's plan is an adapt-
alton of the foreign "pubIic
housing" plans. The government.
thru Westbrook's organization
developed the Camden project to
provide 500 families, in co-opera-
ton with the families. The houses
ana sites were planned thru con-
ferences Of those interested. The
government then organized a cor
poration to take over the project
and manage it. At present, the
governments directors dominate
the management group by West
brooks plan calls for representa-
tlyes Of the house occupants to
take over management and for
eventual ownership of the pro-
Ject by a cooperative housing
group.
1t may be said now, and ad-
mitted, that the details of the
plan would indicate that the
houses and the project would be
publicly owned and operated"
for a long time, rather than CO.
operatively owned" but appar-
entity the fact that cooperative
ownership was provided for
stirred the various housing adj
ministrators.
10 appraise what has happened,
1t must be remembered that profit
real estate interests kicked out of
the original Wagner slum clear
ance bill the provision for CO.
operative housing. 1t should also
be recognized that during all the
early days of the defense hous-
Ing administration, an ice-water
bath was given to anyone WHO
Urged cooperative housing. But
Westbrook's plan and the favor
able reception it got thruout the
country, and also in Congress-,
established the cooperative hous-
ing advocates as persons worthy
Of consideration.
When the Lanham Bill was be-
fore the House, Nathan Strauss.
administrator of the United State.
Housing Authority. denounced the
waste and in-efficiency in housing
efforts which he said was due to
the conflict Of authority between
the various government housing
groups. 1t was reported thai
Strauss might resign unless the
U. s. Housing Authority was
given favorable recognition. Then
IL was reported that the wings
OF c. F. Palmer, coordinator Of
housing in the defense organiza-
ton, might be clipped Palmer's
organization and administration
has been attacked from inside de-
tense authority circles and also in
Congress Westbrook got a pat on
the back.
Propose 80 Interest
Now Palmer has issued an an
houncement of cooperative
housing plan for defense work
ers." The plan calls for loans in
sured by the Federal Housing
Administration. But where West
brooks plan was based on charg-
ing the house buyer only 39c
interest, the tendency under FILA
insurance has been to support
much higher interest rates.
Palmer's associates insist they
have something in which the "co-
operatives will be interested" but
the proof is yet in the pudding.
PATRoNIZE