a uniform plumbing code for housing was also continued. The HHFA worked closely with a uniform plumbing code committee composed of representatives of HHFA, U. S. Public Health Service, National Bureau of Standards, National Association of Master Plumbers and United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry. Controversial issues were made the bases of special testing at the National Bureau of Standards for which the testing set-up was planned and directed by staff members of HHFA. Drafting of the code was substantially completed by the end of 1947. It was published as Technical Paper No. 6 in early 1948 and circulated for comment.

5. Coordination of technical activities.-All proposed testing activities and requirements of the constituent agencies of the HHFA were reviewed and procedure for carrying on the necessary work at cooperating laboratories was arranged by the OA technical office.

This coordinating function evolved during the year has worked toward improved scheduling of laboratory work, integration of test proposals with basic research already done or under way, and enabled all interested parties to keep informed on current new materials and structures under study.

Chapter VII

URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT

One of the most important aspects of our housing problem arises out of the widespread prevalence of the slums and blighted areas characteristic of practically every major city. 1947 saw increasing agreement on the need for action to clear out these areas and to redevelop them in accordance with sound land-use plans.

Also, the high rate of postwar building focused attention on the need for guiding new residential construction toward the creation of well-rounded communities which can adequately provide facilities for a satisfactory living environment. As it was, a large volume of new housing in 1947 went into outlying sections generally unprepared to meet all the needs of the additional population for essential community services, such as utilities and schools.

Urban Redevelopment

Among the large cities, interest increased in the possibility of clearing and redeveloping their blighted areas. In a number of cities, preliminary studies and plans were in varying stages of progress. In the few cities where limited funds were being provided by local sources, experimental projects by public agencies advanced to the stage of appraisal and purchase of land in the areas designated for redevelop

ment. Generally, lack of funds for land assembly and for writing down land costs to the new use value, together with the problem of rehousing the families to be displaced by the projects, were obstacles to further development of projects. However, in a number of cities preliminary steps were taken toward shaping actual redevelopment project proposals to be submitted for public approval as provided by the several State and local laws.

New Hampshire and Puerto Rico passed laws authorizing urban redevelopment bringing the total number of States with such legislation to 24, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Existing urban redevelopment laws were amended by the legislatures of California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York, and Wisconsin. Minnesota enacted a new law, repealing the old one. California created a State Redevelopment Agency.

Progress was made in a number of communities in carrying forward redevelopment projects begun in earlier years. The following is a brief summary of progress made on some of the principal projects under way.

Detroit.-Work on the Gratiot area project, which was proposed in 1945, reached the stage of land appraisal and the initiation of court proceedings to acquire the first 40 acres of the land to be redeveloped. This is an experimental project financed with appropriations from city funds and being carried out according to a five-point program adopted by the common council of the city of Detroit. It will assemble and clear a 100-acre site, about 60 percent of which will be offered to private developers for rebuilding, primarily for residential use. The city is proceeding to acquire the land, but actual demolition of existing structures will not start until the housing shortage is relieved to the point where the displaced families can be rehoused

Indianapolis.-By the end of the year a start had been made on the acquisition and condemnation of the 178-acre site selected for initial redevelopment under the Indianapolis plan. Under this plan funds for land assembly, replanning and replatting of blighted areas are provided from a city tax levy of 10 cents per $100 assessed valuation for 2 years, and 5 cents per $100 each year thereafter. The tax produced in excess of $553,000 in 1946, and the same levy was made in 1947. The cost of acquiring the land in the first project area estimated at 10 cents a square foot-will be low in comparison with the cost of land in most central city slum areas, due to the fact that much of the area is already vacant. On March 17, 1947, the Marion County Superior Court by a four to one decision held that it would be of public utility and benefit for the Indianapolis Redevelopment Comnission to acquire the blighted area in question for the purpose of redevelopment.

Chicago. In November the voters authorized a 15 million dollar bond issue for slum clearance and redevelopment, and another 15 million dollars for rehousing low-income families who would be displaced by slum clearance, redevelopment, highway and other public improvements. Combined with funds provided by the State of Illinois and previously authorized bond issues, Chicago by the end of the year had resources of over 25 million dollars for slum clearance and redevelopment purposes. A land clearance commission had also been appointed.

Several organizations interested in the redevelopment of the large blighted area in Chicago's central south side joined in the preparation of a detailed report and plan showing how 3 square miles within the area can be rebuilt. The Michael Reese Hospital and the Illinois Institute of Technology, which are the two largest institutions within the area, had actually acquired some of the blighted land and were going ahead with institutional and residential building plans. The Chicago housing authority continued to use its power of eminent domain to assemble sites for public and private redevelopment in the portion of the area marked for first stage rebuilding.

Baltimore.-Eight areas proposed for redevelopment by the Baltimore Redevelopment Commission were approved by the City Council as part of the redevelopment program. In May, a bond issue of 3 million dollars for redevelopment was submitted to the voters but it failed of approval by a small margin. With only a small administrative fund voted by the City Council, but with the support and assistance of a large number of local groups, both public and private, the Commission continued its studies of the areas to be redeveloped.

San Francisco. -Studies of areas for redevelopment and preliminary or tentative plans for such projects were under way in San Francisco. The Planning Commission completed a detailed study of the western addition district which it recommended should be designated a redevelopment area under the terms of the California Community Redevelopment Act.

Jersey City.-Agreement was reached between a large insurance company and the city on the first rental project to be planned under the New Jersey Redevelopment Act of 1946, wherein the city will buy the site and lease it to the developer at a nominal figure, the entire project to revert to the city at the end of the leasehold.

Milwaukee.-A survey was made of the first project area proposed for redevelopment-a 106-acre site on the near north side of the cityand the city began acquiring that portion of the site which will be used for publicly financed housing.

Philadelphia.-A city-wide survey of housing and environment was made by the city planning commission preparatory to preliminary

certification of areas for improvement by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.

New Urban Development

New urban growth and development as produced and shaped by new residential construction continued in the familiar pattern of more extensive suburban expansion. Economic dispersion and sprawl continued in spite of a growing interest in the neighborhood type of development in which dwellings are planned in close relationship with some community facility, such as a shopping center.

An interesting example of an approach to the provision of better living and working environment and more economical suburban development moved toward reality with the start of construction of the new "planned" city for 30,000 people on a 2,500-acre vacant site 30 miles south of Chicago's Loop. The new community is being built by American Community Builders, Inc., and the construction of the first 3,000 dwelling units has been financed by three insurance companies to the amount of $27,500,000, with FHA insurance, according to information published about the project. This first section. will be rental housing and the balance of the housing will be for sale. The new community, called Park Forest, is unique among the recent big suburban developments in that it makes provision for all the requirements of urban living, including industry, as well as schools, churches, business, and recreation, under a comprehensive development plan. It is expected to meet practically all the needs of a selfcontained community.

Chapter VIII

INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF HOUSING ACTIVITIES World Housing Conditions

Housing progress abroad in 1947 was characterized less by a high volume of construction than by increased consciousness of need and more active exploration of methods to bring relief. Acute shortages of dwellings and inadequacies in those existing continued to characterize the world problem. There is a growing tendency to recognize the responsibility of national governments in planning and executing housing programs and a number of countries established national housing agencies during 1947.

As the social and economic activities of the United Nations have grown in scope and volume, the benefits of international cooperation in housing have become more apparent. Such activity focuses in the Social Commission of the Economic and Social Council of the UN and expands into the specialized agencies with which it cooperates. One of the most important contributions of the United States in

the world housing situation may be assisting other nations to utilize their own internal resources more fully. Material assistance is being given under our foreign-aid programs. Information reaching HHFA, however, indicates that further development of resources within the aided countries may reduce previous estimates of aid required from outside sources.

Policy and Cooperative Action in the International Field

The following instances are typical of international housing activities during 1947. The UN Secretariat decided to publish an international review of housing and town planning. The Secretariat initiated a survey of the housing activities of the principal international organizations. At Geneva, Switzerland, a housing panel was created in the recently established Economic Commission for Europe. Under the joint sponsorship of the UN Secretariat and the Government of Venezuela, a conference was held in Caracas to study tropical housing problems.

United States governmental policy on international questions affecting housing is developed under the leadership of the Department of State by the Federal agencies whose interests are involved. HHFA staff members are included in the membership of various interdepartmental committees.

HHFA officials have participated in one form or another in many international housing activities. An HHFA representative served as part-time consultant to the UN Secretariat on housing questions; an HHFA staff member was housing adviser to the American Mission for Aid to Greece; and another was housing adviser to the United States delegation to the Economic Commission for Europe.

Exchange of Experience and Knowledge

About 100 missions from countries in both hemispheres have come in to study United States housing policies and methods. Inquiries from other nations have been received at the rate of about 30 per month. Through the Department of State, United States embassies abroad have continued to supply staff reports and printed literature. Foreign housing organizations have sent periodicals and reports. This material is reviewed, classified, and reported on accession lists.

Reciprocally, HHFA has arranged for dispatch abroad of its publications. These are supplied regularly through the State Department to United States embassies and embassy libraries and to libraries maintained overseas by the Army. A collection of exhibit and study material was prepared by HHFA for use in Germany and Austria by the Civil Affairs Division, and a similar collection was begun for Japan. A small exhibit, sent to the Housing Panel of the Economic Commission for Europe at Geneva, was later transferred to Athens for use