The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1947-05-10

Negro votes in the extreme
Northeast and Northwest of De-
troit is kept that way because
Of housing shortages. Only when
housing is plentiful will those
tensions begin 10 case.
SUFFERS CRUELTY
The Negro community suffers
cruelty because Of the inhuman
crowding in our ghettoes, and
the refusal OF real estate inter-
ests and white house-owners to
accept Negro neighbors in the
outer edges Of town. This is
reflected in high crime and de-
linquency rates, high sickness
rates, and broken homes and
lives.
The TRIBUNE has made in
quiries 10 learn what housing
experts consider 20 be the needs
OF our city. and what actions
are needed TO meet the needs
We present here the results of
our Investigations. They repre-
sent the kind OF program that
a citizens group working 70
better housing and for com
munitv planning should be ad-
vocating
NEED $4,000 YEARLY
Experts estimate that for the
next fifteen years about $4,000
housing units a year should be
L.,1. IL, H. ,,,ot~nv,Ittan ovOo
with about 1880 inside the
city. This will cover the natural
| increase in population, undoub-
ling Of families. replacement OF
1.-The 20 per cent Of existing
dwellings now standard, the
30 per cent of the remainder
that will become sub-standard
during the Is years, additional
population, and homes TO be dis
placed by public Improvements
They say that an integrated
program is needed, aimed at
providing decent housing for all,
and not one that is divided in
TO separate compartments for
veterans, for Negroes, for slum
dwollers. and all the rest. 1t
should iii in with a regional
plan which properly locates res
idential areas in relation to in
dustry transportation recrea-
ton. and other community IA
ciltics.
NEW COMMUNITIES
To accomplish these general
/ purposes new planned commune
ties must be established, COM
plete with industry, business,
and recreation.
The following policies have
been suggested as basic for
been suggested as basic for
/. Full advantage should be
taken Of the low interest rate
/ for public loans. in order to re-
duce the cost Of building and
of mortgages
2. The city should use its
rights of eminent domain 10
secure sites for satellite towns.
and 10 assemble redevelop-
ment areas.
| g. Project sites should be Of
fercd 20 private individuals
corporations. and co-operatives
for sale or lease subject TO pro-
per standards and requirements
4. Public housing should be
built wherever private en-
ierprise does not function. The
finished projects. in whole or
4 in part. should then be sold
OF leased 10 private individ-
uals. corporation. co-opera-
iives. and public agencies.
s Increases of land values
from these developments should
accrue TO the community to help
pay for public improvements,
6. Stun clearance should be
undertaken only when adequate
housing. at reasonable prices, Is
available for the persons to be
displaced.
2. All facilities should be
available 10 all. without dis
elimination or segregation be-
cause Of race. creed, color, re-
lieion. or national origin.
g. The city should retain
rent control as long as there
arc less than 3 per cent Of all
dwelling units vacant at all
times
This is the kind Of program
that could rally a substantial
section Of the city's progrcssives
Why doesn't the Citizens HouS-
ling and Planning Council get
10 work on a program like this
/ Or will citizens have TO form
new council to get action on
housing?