Minneapolis spokesman., 1962-04-06
Riverview: The Need For A
Realistic Housing Policy

1t is gratifying to know that the families in st.
Pauls Riverview area who are facing displacement
for an industrial park" are now getting the city
wide attention that their plight calls for.
We began calling attention to their problem
many months ago Subsequently, the plight of these
people got radio and TV attention, and aroused the
concern of Senator Hubert Humphrey But only in
the past couple of weeks has it seemed to concern
any of the candidates for city office. We pleased
to know that Mayor Candidate Joseph Gabler (who
Is also chairman of the Housing Authority has
now taken up demand that clearance Of the
area be halted until realistic re-housing plan is
worked out. Less pleasing the reactions Of Port
Authority Chairman Philip Mason and Port Auth
ority executive vice president Frank MarzitelH.
Mr.. Nason's reaction to the plight Of these
people is quoted in the St. Paul Dispatch Of March
27: 'In my opinion the development of frst-class
planned industrial district in the Rverview is
of the greatest steps forward ST. Paul has ever
taken In the long it is progressive for those
residents who have been down there with really no
market for their properties" Mr.. Mason seems not
to accept the obvious fact that any responsible de-
velopment plan must include a realistic re-housing
program.
Mr.. Marziteli has promised that nobody will
be put out on the street." but if this is true it
certainly is not what the residents of the area who
have been under shattering pressure, understand
And in this connection, the threat is even worse
than the fact. The fact of putting families out on
the street would at least arouse the community to
action But his pretense that the present Authority
program-a relocation office"-is adequate, is
simply ridiculous
Much of the difficulty in the current predca-
ment results from the fact that Of St. Pauls
officials concerned with housing and redevelopment
seems to be willing to face the facts.
The problem is that redevelopment including
highways industrial parks" and slum clearance in
the very nature of things concentrates the areas
that are the most rundown, the poorest, the most
In need of replacement - and therefore the lowest
in COST Some of the housing in these areas is we'll
maintained, sound and desirable but by and large
it is the kind that people occupy not from choice
but from economic necessity. 1t is not what they
want, but what they afford.
ST. Paul has drastically reduced the supply Of
the housing that these people can afford, without
doing anywhere near an adequate job of replace
ment. Indeed, the Housing Authority has taken the
position that the redevelopment land is too valu-
able" for low-cost low and middle income housing.
Meanwhile the waiting list of applicants for public
housing keeps growing and displaced persons
move into whatever is available under conditions
that promote overcrowding, illegal and unsound
usages-and more galoping blight.
The Riverview crisis is exceedingly important
to those who fighting for sound housing policy
for very big reason The Rivervew project is
greatly desired by the powerful, weheeled COM
fortably housed elite who the city and its finan
cal and industrial institutions These people have
been pretty indifferent, contemptuous about
the plight of the displaced families.
But there ought at this point to be enough
humanity in st. Paul enough civic concern, enough
public opinion, to demand halt to this folly until
the re-housing problem is faced realistically. Until
a start, at least, is made toward solving it.
We pleased to observe that Mr.. Gabler is
now demanding just this. If Mr.. Mason wants to
treat the RiverWew families humanely and justly
and pave the way for additional needed redevelop-
ment projects, he will put his weight behind realis
tic re-housing program. And that is probably all
that would be required to get it started