The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1944-03-11
CURRENT
NOTES
cLosTER B. CURRENT


ieft With the Common Council a
memorandum on various city prob
lens
Edwards called Tor DEVELOPMENT
Of municipal projects Ter The posi-
war period which We're designed 10
relieve possible larec-scale unem-
ii ymenr aud 10 meet the demand
or necessary and desirable munic-
ipal services These projects in
e!uaea The presently much discuss
ed rivoffrout drive aud parkway:
DEVELOPMENT OF civic center nr
cladius much needed municipal
Office building and municipal audi
lofium) The Edwards plan also
urged immediate nation
proceedings in order hat the sixth
Hamilton and the lIar9cr.McGraw
sapcr highways could Immediately
sei underway.
Basic to ali Detroits postwar
planning Is the rapid completion Of
q master plan for the city, said
Edwards. Now nc master plan is
something talked about. bur being
sem in Tic Development stage lilile'
understood except by perhaps me
CITY planner
Since 1872 there has been more
research and map presentation.
,hau real action. A democratic
master plan for this city would be
beneficial TO minori'ies, yet 10
date there has been little mention
q minority group needs and prob
Ions in publications. Of the CRY
Plan commission. COMING studies
y pctreit's needs and analysis Of
trends Viii have Is iake minorFics
ihto account IL 'he final develop
ment IS 90 on1r any accefuble
program % action
Take foy example, This matter Of
SHES for housing The current
dodge L Tie Detroit llonsIug COM
mission IS thar iAere are 10 avail
able "non-Conlroycrsial s.tcs for
hous. ing Negro war workers. AS
citizens OF Detroit we recognize no
site So controversial All available
,i'ss uehi TO be used 10 house
uar Workers REGARDLESS Of color.
That IS one point which VIII have
70 Dc settled bcfoge We finally agree
on the master rlan bsc3usc ia ie
afsnmeiHs aealns. segregation are
involved
The 1899 report ~ The CITY Plan
comml zion revealed that studios
we!c made of thc economic base %
fhe community ic., an analyst.
o. income labor forcc. major
sources OF employment, nuema-
tions decomposition apd oeeara.
iional distribution OF tile labor
force; the school system rtcrta
'ioual facilities. traffic and trans
ROTATIONS business cnicrs anc
iemio growth Of The Dcfroit area
since 1898, We note That HE plan
nofs are considering blight Blrh'
is easily recognizable, whether
ihfoash the natural eye. or lecaiet
on Tho Intricate mnlN-coloro,
charis of George F. Emery. cit,
planr'r The problem is. WHO Nil
rebuild The blirh,cd areas?
Now n the powers that be can
not agree on sites for dcsperaiel,
needed war housing IS 20 reason
able % assume that there viii b,
blight removal on democrati,
basis? My answer IS No.
A survey OF existing land use
in Detroit shows that 2s.l per con
is residential streets and alley
occupy 2iS per cent: aos per cen
Is vacant, minor uses such as rail
roads. airporis. cemeteries, uuil
ties, institutions. constitute &C pc
cent: Industrial 40 per cent: con
mercial 3.3 per cent and rccreatio
40 percent. One-iifth II the Ian
today In the city OF Detroit n va
cant! Yet, 1000 citizens Of colo
are going without much needa
housing. housing for which none
j. available, because there are n
= sites.
The high cost OF land makes r,
moval OF blight and slums by pr
waite capital rrohibiiisc YET. n
clarion call now sounding By N
: postwar free enterprise" boys il
: dicaies an aIlout fight against go
: ernmenfally subsidized slum clea
ance public housing projects.
!. Tho City Plan commission a,
IT'S within the Boulevard blight p
q moval plans onto Mayor Jcnrie
y per cent payroll tax. Council y
!, wards opposed this on The has
It that the tax levies were of the san
J. percentage against low incomes
against high incomes. Furthe
n more. present plans would have Il
e taxpayers buy up The land and m
y allow private builders 10 robul
! following the so-esllod mas
- plan. In the process Tho iaxnaye
would be subsidlz.ng eaicrpr.
= With no puarantcc that tho no,
ing needs Of DE PEOPLE NH
% mel