Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-05-16
Housing Association
NumeS BQTVie les
Executive Director

Robert w, barrie mas been
elected 20 the new post Of full
time executive director OF the
Minneapolis Housing Association,
Il was announced today.
The association II . civic or
ganiEation including representa-
tives Of the ALL CIo. religious
groups. League Of Women Voters,
and veterans organizations; bust
nessmen and private citizens.
Its purpose is to develop public
awareness OF the city's housing
shortage and to promote the con-
struction OF low-rent public hous-
ing for low-income families.
Barrie's election was announc-
ed by Howard Kahn, Barrie's
successor as president. Other of.
ficers are Joseph Erickson. chair
man Of the housing committee Of
the Minneapolis Central Labor
Union, vice-president; and Mrs.
w. J. Hertz. secretary-treaSurer,
Board members include I. J..
oaIes, AFL building trades coun-
ell: Alderman George Martens:
Harold Haight. CLIO: Mrs. Elsbeth
Parker. League Of Women Voters:
Tom Roberts. AFL construction
and general laborers union: Pat
Goodin, American Legion: George
o'Brien. AFL teamsters union:
Cecil Newman, Minneapolis
Spokesman. Clarence Anger. CIo:
Ben Better, Disabled American
Veterans; Ashby Gaskins, Urban
League; Jim Guest. Go: Richard
sieKel, American Veterans Com
.mittee: Donald Fraser, legal ad-
wiser: win J. Hertz, publicity
chairman. and Myrtle Cain,
speakers bureau.
The associations immediate
goal IL to promote additional units
Of federally subsidized public
housing In Minneapolis" Kahn
said.
The 1000 units Of public hous'
ing already agreed TO by the city
council and the Minneapolis
housing authority" he continued
fall far below the eity's needs
"A Stun survey by the author'
ity and the city health depart
ment in l949 revealed that thS
city has 5000 units Of seriously
deficient housing. Most Of thess
units are beyond repair.
The situation has become
worse In the past two years be-
cause construction costs have beer
too high for these families 10 buy
or 10 rent better housing. In add
ton. the mayor has just reported
that the $50 city-owned temper
airy units built after the war soor
must be torn down because they
have deteriorated beyond prac'
ticable repair.
with the present national
emergency. we cannot hope r.
build $4,000 public housing units
In Minneapolis in the near future
But 1000 units IL barely q start.
Denver. Colo, which ID
smaller and less crowded than
Minneapolis. is building 1000
units, while Minneapolis has 10 far
approved only 1000"
Barrie pointed out that II Min.
neapols doesn't get the additional
units, other cities win Congress-
In 1919 authorized building Of
$40 900 units throughout ths
country In q siK-year program
ending in 1855
An expanded housing program
would permit a STUN clearance
and redevcIopment program 10 re-
deem present Stun land for pr.
vate housing construction and In.
dustriaI sitea." Barrie said.
This would substantially in.
crease the city's income" he
added. Present slum areas now
yield extremely low tan income;
new housing and industrial plants
would fan into higher tax
brackets.
Experience In other cities has
shown" Barrie concluded. that
public housing and slum clear
anee programs have been made
possible only through continuing
efforts by citizens groups %