CHAPTER 1. PROGRAM IDENTIFICATION FOREWORD "Urban Renewal" is a name for an effort to revitalize our city areas which are decaying, and to prevent good areas from starting to decay. It is for the benefit of all Americans. It is a technique through which the citizen exercises a control over, and makes use of, the persistent vitality of the urban environment in order better to meet the needs of the people who live and work in it. It is a system for preventing the premature obsolescence of urban neighborhoods and facilities. It is a tool for the restoration of declining areas which can and should serve a longer period of useful life. It is a device for the re-creation of areas which are worn out, without leaving them and the people in them to stagnate until some accident of history in the unforeseeable future stimulates new growth. It is a program under which cities, in partnership with, and with maximum reliance on, private enterprise undertake urban renewal with Federal Government support. Above all it deals with humans; it is trying to provide a satisfactory living and working environment for humans. Following are summaries of the major programs administered by the Urban Renewal Administration. A compilation of nontechnical definitions of terms used in describing these programs is contained in the publication Housing Definitions . . . as they relate to Programs of the Housing and Home Finance Agency. This booklet is for sale price 30 cents-by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C. TITLE I PROJECT A Title I project is an urban renewal project which is financed in part through Federal advances, loans, and grants authorized by Title I of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. (See Chapter 1-2.) Most projects are in cities and towns throughout the country which have the blight problems common to almost any American urban community. Some, however, are in areas which have been designated by the President as "disaster areas. Since these are emergency projects, Section 111 of Title I contains special provisions, designed to make Federal urban renewal assistance available, if needed, without regard to certain prerequisites applicable to the usual type of urban renewal project. (See Part 44.) URBAN PLANNING ASSISTANCE Urban planning assistance is a program, authorized by Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954, as amended, of Federal grants to help finance the cost of various kinds of planning activity on a metropolitan area, regional, or State basis. The grants are available also for communitywide planning in counties, municipalities, and other communities with less than 50,000 population, including preparation of the planning elements of a Program for Community Improvement (Workable Program). (See Part 40.) COMMUNITY RENEWAL PROGRAM A Community Renewal Program is a program under which Federal grants up to two-thirds of total cost may be made for preparing communitywide blueprints for urban renewal. (See Part 41.) The law specifically contemplates such broad activities as: (1) Identification of blighted or deteriorating areas in the community. (2) Measurement of the nature and degree of blight and blighting factors in the areas. (3) Determination of the financial, relocation, and other resources needed to renew the areas. (4) Identification of potential project areas and types of urban renewal action contemplated. (5) Scheduling of urban renewal activities. FEASIBILITY SURVEY A Feasibility Survey is a special study of questions about an urban area which should be examined even before the beginning of normal survey and planning activity for an urban renewal project. (See Part 42.) GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD RENEWAL PLAN A General Neighborhood Renewal Plan is a plan for an urban renewal area of such scope that renewal activities may have to be "phased" over a period as long as 10 years. (See Part 43.) "NONASSISTED" PROJECT A nonassisted project is distinguished from the Title I project assisted by Federal loans and grants. The principal form of Federal assistance for a nonassisted project is FHA special mortgage insurance. Special support for mortgage financing may be available from the Federal National Mortgage Association. The Urban Renewal Administration is concerned with the eligibility, planning, and approval of such projects. (See Part 45.) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM The Demonstration Program is a program, authorized by Section 314 of the Housing Act of 1954, of Federal grants for experimental undertakings which will add fresh information about urban renewal problems and be useful in guiding renewal activities in other communities. (See Part 46.) "NONASSISTED" PROJECT A nonassisted project is distinguished from the Title I project assisted by Federal loans and grants. The principal form of Federal assistance for a nonassisted project is FHA special mortgage insurance. Special support for mortgage financing may be available from the Federal National Mortgage Association. The Urban Renewal Administration is concerned with the eligibility, planning, and approval of such projects. (See Part 45.) URBAN RENEWAL DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM The Urban Renewal Demonstration Program, authorized by Section 314 of the Housing Act of 1954, as amended, provides Federal grants for experimental undertakings which will be useful in guiding renewal activities in other communities. Funds are also available for preparing and publishing reports on innovative experiences undertaken under programs other than the Urban Renewal Demonstration Program. (See Part 46.) OPEN-SPACE LAND AND URBAN BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS The Open-Space Land Program and the Urban Beautification Pro- (1) Acquisition of undeveloped or predominantly undeveloped land (3) Development of open-space land acquired with grant assist- (4) Programs of beautification and improvement in urban areas. (5) Activities of a unique or different nature which may demonstrate (See Part 47.) 9/22/65 |