The first feedback on the redevelopment plan for the “triangle area” indicated to the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council Board that the issue of subsidized housing was going to be criticized both by those who think the projected percentage of such housing too high, and also by opposing groups who think the percentage too low.
This problem was the central issue at two January Board meetings. In the original plans, approved last summer, the Board agreed to subsidized housing in the redevelopment area at a rough estimate of 10% to 20%. In the formal plan submitted to the City Plan Commission this was expressed as “up to 20%, dependent on financing.” Some representatives of neighborhood associations voiced concern that if the 20% figure became a reality, the number of low income families might inhibit the growth of commercial businesses which would both serve and revive the surrounding blocks.
Opposition came from those who felt that the desperate need for suitable housing for low income groups should be a prime consideration in redevelopment.
Board members generally agreed that subsidized housing was both a political and moral issue. The political aspect concerned what percentage could be approved and financed. The moral issue concerned the needs of people for homes. Most Board members accepted the fact that this neighborhood could not take on the city’s entire burden of low income housing, but felt that if other areas would plan for matching percentages the housing problem would be well on the way to solution.
(Subsidized housing is not the same as public housing. Subsidized housing refers to privately built and managed units. One form is a rent supplement which makes up the difference between what the tenant can pay and the rent necessary to maintain the building. Another form is a special low-interest construction loan which allows a lower rent to be charged. One building can have both of these subsidies operative at the same time.)
As a practical matter, Cal Stuart, SDCC director, pointed out that the actual amount of subsidized housing to be built cannot be determined until the plan has been approved by the Board of Aldermen and negotiations for financing are underway. At that time, federal and city guidelines regarding subsidized housing in any given area, will come into the picutre as a deciding factor. In other words, if federal lending and insuring agencies, will make construction loans for subsidized housing of 5% or 8% or 10% or whatever, it is not likely that more than that can be built.
Along with subsidization, the problems of relocating present occupants, was stressed as a serious problem to the Board. Even with the assistance of the city relocation agency, and the possible acquisition of some funds to help, the location of housing units for the very poor is extremely difficult. Board members agreed that despite this difficulty the rapid deterioration of most structures in the redevelopment area make it urgent that redevelopment proceed as rapidly as possible.
The plan submitted by the Kingsbury Redevelopment Corporation was approved by the City Plan Commission and a bill to authorize its construction was introduced to the Board of Aldermen in early January Public hearings on this bill will be announced in the metropolitan press and by flyer through the neighborhood.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1972.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1972_02.pdf, printed page 3.
