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ITEMS OF INTEREST eee TO EUD RAISED AT HEAR INGS OF
RIBICOFF SUBCOMMITTES ON EXSCUTIVE RNORGA NIZATION
December 5, 1966 (morning)
CONSTANTINOS DOXIADIS, President, Doxiadis Association
Mr. Doxiadis maintained that the crisis of urban society could be
alleviated only through an approach based upon systematic knowledge
of human settlements. The great defect of existing urban development
programs according to Mr. Doxiadis is that they nave an impact on 24
limited segment of the totelity of urban existence. These efforts
confined to a single area cannot produce affirmitive results because
the problem of mass transportation or the dilemma of the central
city are integrally related to the broader patterns of humen
settlement. The main points raised in the sreuluoNy and during the
questioning period were the following:
1. The Failure of Federal Government Programs to Solve Uroan Prodlems.
Mr. Doxiadis stated that the public housing end urban renewal pr- 7
have not prevented a worsening of the urban situation. The dans... --
cities program was described as "a small beginning in the direction oF
coordinated achion, small in size and sine, as compared to the areas
it must cover.".
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2. The Need for Avoiding Increased Pressure on Urban Areas
Mr. Doxiadis suggested that the crisis of the cities might be egrravated
by a substantial increase in federal exvenditures for urban development.
fn easing of the pressure of existing cities through the construction
of new uroan centers should be considered.
3. Federal Programs as a Mechanism for Acquiring Increased knowledse@
of Urban Froblems
Mr. Doxiadis stressed that an awareness of the interrelated character of
urban problems should lead to an intensified study of social, econ Ones
and political patterns prevailing in urban areas. He urged that gover
programs should be utilized to provide increased knowledse of these patteax
kh. The Preservation of Oven Soaces
Mr. Dixiadis declared that the construction of public facilities in
selected areas would encourage persons and businesses to locate them-
selves in a manner which would serve the interests of an entire urban
region. The conservation of open land by the governinent is thus
necessary to the creation of an infrastructure of public facilities
wnicn would make possible orderly ursan developiisnt.
5. Urben Crisis Depends Unon a Limiteacicn ar
Mr. Doxiadis called for overall federel governpent control of the payvisrns
of human settlement. Tne continuation of commualty autoneny wath re. ce
development will produce a worsening of the urben crisis.