The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-09-27

8A.AAL OAAW H4NaAA0 Nla0NN8A0~A ~ 49,
the Porter estate for . new Federal
Housing project, Il has been defl-
nitely stated IA Q letter released BY
Controller We'll p. Maioney,
Chairman Of the local War Housing
program, and received BY him from
the Federal Housing Authority, Bos-
ton, Mass. Signed by Sumner x.
wiley, Regional Director, the let
tor explains In detail the investiga-
ton that has been conducted into
the local housing situation, BY his
office, and replies to the objections
Of local groups who have strongly
opposed the use Of the Porter tract
for such o project
In reference to that part Of the
letter that speaks Of resolutions"
Of one Of the local organizations
protesting this move, Mr.. Maloney
stated that, last week he had for
warded the writer, q copy Of the
formal protest Of the Bouley Manor
community club which Is objecting
on the basis that housing units Of
this type, erected within their lo-
Gale, viii cause q devaluation Of
their property.
The letter "a herein printed in
full in the belief that no part Of It
Is subject to delition without det-
rimental effects to the full picture
of the situation It's contents are
meant to portray. Addressed to Neil
r. Maloney, Chairman 1t IL as fol.
lows:
Dear Mr.. Maloney,"
This acknowledges your letter
Of September IS, relative to the
Porter property site for Project
Conn. -62O6, Waterbury.
Plane are being prepared to use
the above site for the project, as
this site is the only practicable
one that has been found by us or
suggested by the locality. SO far
as we know, the only sites that
the city would suggest or entertain
are the site on Edgewood Ave ad-
jacent to the broadcasting station
and the flood area site near Hunt
iagdon avenue.
It was estimated by the repre-
sentative Of our construction sec
ton who visited the Edgewood site
that Its use would entail an excess
cost Of $35, 900 for removal Of the
boulders and for drainage, which
amounts to nearly $3.50 per dwell
ing unit. We are quite sure that
the average taxpayer who foots
the bills would not approve Of
this unnecessary expenditure. II
drained, the Edgewood avenue site
would undoubtedly dry,up the area
on which the broadcasting COM
pany has It's underground wires
distributed. We understand that
1t Is most desirable that these
wires be In wet ground. Therefore,
they would have q very legitimate
complaint II we used this area for
o housing site. The objection to
using the Huntingdon avenue site
Is self-evident. The area was
flooded in 1898. car disapproval
Of this site has nothing to do
with meeting q budget.
Many Of the objections IN the
resolutions Of protest are not sub
stantiated by the facts. The hous-
es which 1t Is proposed to build
are not barracks" Gas referred
to by the Bouley Manor protest.
nor are they similar TO barracks.
Within two years after the emery
ency, these houses viii be non.
existent, so that there could be
no permanent detriment TO val
ues.
The property density on this site
Is about 2 dwelling units per acre,
which is comparable to the dem
sity Of the neighborhood The Hen.
dricken school, according to DR..
Condor (Supt. Of Schools) has an
enrolment Of ga and o capacity
of 400; the high schools an enroll
ment Of 3546 and q capacity Of
5il8, so that the argument Of
overcrowding Of neighborhood and
schools Is mythical.
One section Of the resolution Is
very revealing, (the following re-
fers to the report made recently
that all the surveyors stakes laid
down by the federal representa-
tives were subsequently pulled-up
by someone unknown and their
original locations filled-in to hide
their marks). (The letter contin-
ues). This section reads, Most
important Of all we have grave
reason to fear that many OF the
people housed In these l40 units
will be Of undesirable character
and will endanger the health and
happiness Of our families, and the
morals Of our children" The will"
and undesirable" have been
crossed off in pencil on two Of
the sheets and somebody has SUBJ
stituted may" and questionable.
May we point out that the "ques-
tionable" characters by whom the
protestants are fearful Of being
contaminated are the same Arners