The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1942-02-06
to Reclaim
Residential Areas
In Cities Are Taken

sound procedure tn attacking une
knmuehrnafre and cosnniex pEnh-
leuns Of rsclAiming and redeFNloplng
hilzhted urnan areas are suggested
81 Tire FEDERAL Housing Administer
Hcns neW puhiicatinn "A Handbook
~ urban RedeVelcpnens Tor Cities
; TN united States
The publication Is chiefly intended
& establish : pattern Of action for
Encni communities in planned under
tAkinEa through q partnership q
private capital and public captal
nd b directed largely tossard pub
- officials og municipalities who
must prepare and take the resyon-
tlkility fer rehabilitation and rcdc-
eeinpEnest projects
-For many years urban aums and
6llElste1 areas have been spreading.
hecomlng more intensified. and
breaking out IN new spots. the
publication states. Collectively they
have reached starting proportions
= Is 70 help prevent further spread
81 such property blight and Is an
nutidute 70 these areas already In
feeted. that this publication Is Of
tered.
me problem Of urban rehabilita-
kion Il expected 70 assume an even
more important aspect after the
ear. It i stated by Federal Hot1s-
ing Administrator Ahner H. Fnrnu-
son nj announcing publication Of the
handbook He points out that the
United States must be ready after
tire war 70 proceed with an orderly
restoration OF the economic system.
In which urban redeTeiopment viii
plAy q leading role. In Great Brit
In. he says. ; program Of this kind
mas been under study throughout
the war.
The FHAs handbook Is based ON
surveys made under the supervision
- Earle s. Draper. assistant adj
EiinistFator, who also directed prep
aFetion Of the text.
In furewoFd 70 the handbook.
Administrator Ferguson points out
that oF1e Of the important obiiga-
ktnxs imposed upon the FHA Is the
making 0f such statistical surveys
&f.d Ef1dieS as are deemed neces-
BarF to guide the development Of
fzousLne and the creation Of q sound
ssoftgase market IN the United
Efatsk
In the background OF It's oper-
atoms IN cities. the Federal Hous-
ing Administration has long been
conscious OF the aeuac Of urban
biiehted areas and the consequent
uncertainty Of satisfactory munich
pal financial conditions Mr.. FER
euzon continues.
Decay near the eenfers Of ur-
ban communities has progressed
- such > point that reasonable men
may well BE- concerned about the
municipalities increasingly precari-
uz1s financial condition Irrespective
of the methods used 70 finance So
Inksons Of this problem Of slls1ns and
Blight. the fact remains That this
= > problem that must sooner or
later be solved the administrator
safz
The Federal Housing Administra-
ton has on It's books iong-term
MORTGAGES agsregafiraR more than
81 billion dollars Of insured loans
20 residential property, most Of
Which Is heated in urban areas. Il
= obvious therefore. Mr.. Ferguson
points out thai the interest Of the
IA In this problem Is both nation
Nide and constructive.
Inc basic cause for such blight
and property deterioration. ne
handbook states Is neglect. Cities
lzlzst learn h0w to take action. 70
ccfFect Aeir mistakes. to get I'D Of
sElzat Is bad and prevent is re-
turn. 70 moderuize. and 70 redAel-
nn There Is need for careful dag
noAis By the local communities. sup
psnented b. adequate measures Of
treatment IN : program OF action.
tie booklet continues.
The city must 90 more than car
= cit mechanically is Legally sDeeI-
tic duties Il Is asserted. III L