The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-09-08
SITE PROBLEMS
MAJOR CONCERN
OF C0NFEREES

The NAACP' Housing Conference
held Aug. 1880 al the Detroit Ur-
ban League. in statement of
principles vigorously attacked the
problems Of displacement of citi.
zens who will be affected by de-
molition of temporary war nous.
ing, restrictive covenants. pend
Ing housing legislation and cree
lion OF adequate housing by public
and private Interests.
About fifty representatives. of
organizations interested i'm hous-
ing attended the two-day con-
ference over whtch DIR. James
j. McCIendon. president. and
Gloster b. Current. Executive
Secretary. NAACP. presided.
CONSULTANTS included DIR.
Booker T McGraw. MIA housing
analyst: Dr. Frank Horne. FPHA:
DeHart Hubbard FPHA; William
Hill Of the American Council on
Race Relations Others who as.
sisted as local conSultantS were
Rodney Lockwood. executive sec
rotary, Builders Association. Hen
~ Johnson. chairman housing
committee Of Detroit Real Estate
Board George Zinky, state direc-
tor, FILA. George F Emery. city
planncr. George Schermer. direc-
tor Mayors lnterraclal Committee
and F1ward Conner director Cit
liens Housing and Planning Coun.
ell
The resolution committee was
composed ot William Valentine
George Schcrmcr. Louis Marin.
Gloster Current, William Kenne-
dy Miss LYDIA Gary, Edward
Common
TO MEET the imminent prob.
lem of housing Negro families 10
be displaced by demolition Of
temporary war housing projects
scheduled within two wears after
the var the Wayne university and
Medical Center developments. pro.
posed super-highwayS and slum
development programs. the con-
ference went on record for the re-
r0Val 81 temporary war housing
81 the earliest possible d7te. and
a. immediate pro7ran ~ rebuild
Ing SUM areas al the most rapid
pace pos BILE The conference
"enpha'lcally' stated tina, before
any changes are undertaken dis.
placed families must be assured
- available supply ~ adequate
standard accommodations within
tHeIr economic reach and under
favorable community conditions
The conference urged the fol
lowing precautions with respect
10 dispositions: retention Of tenn
pOrary housing until an adequate
81 ply NJ new housing begins To
reach the market. disposition
plans he made in consultation
with local organizations repre-
sentative Of the people involved;
that no premature announce
me nts be made.
CONSIDERABLE discussion was
devoted 10 acquisition Of space and
restrictions against occupancy The
conference declared that The prac-
tie ~ restricting the use ~ lanG
against residential occupancy by
certain racial groups has become
80 widespread that practically raa
: centaH'c residential land IN met
ropoll'an Detroit l. available Toy
Negro occupancy This has pro-
oUCed the most serious congestion
ara oVerCrowG.nS u existing Ne.
crr areas. extreme delap daiaIn OK
prnNcrty ~ heath DC 0Quc"ov
unrest, distrus, ard diSuN.ty With
IL nc community
The conference condemned re
S'y'C'lrC against Any racial ma
tWutl or religious group i
opposed solving 'hC "So-Cai,Cd Ne
prN Housing problem" by building
Negro Devclonmeuts" and urged
tha' such practice be discontinue
The conference urged thai new
G"vo' nN","n'1., 10 declared "unlc-
s'ric'ed" IN character @
Builders and real estate in
tereStS were requested 10 seek
WAYS and means Of checking
the extension Of the practice Of
placing restrictive covenants on
property a. selling factor.
THE CONFERENCE endorsed in
principle INC Wagner Fllendcr
Tiff bill now pending II Congress
and urged that more money nc
made available ~ &c legislation
FOR rcdcvclopmen' Of communities
!. &c Detroit
George zukv. S;a,c FLA dlrcc-
Tor told nc conference that FLA
y now willing ~ insure on 20 {,
lots ~ Negro areas to facilitate
building
Rodney Lockwood. executive .
secretary ~ he Builders Assoc
ton declared that nc builders
have plans for building ON the 80
r. lot< now that FILA WILL insure