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Position Paper
HOUSING LOCATIONS PANEL
Housing Resources Committee
For families in the lowest income brackets, $3,000 and below, which is
generally considered poverty level, low-rent Public Housing has to date been the
only current means of providing standard housing.
Other Federal assisted programs, such as the FHA 221 d(2) (Single-family
home ownership); the 221 d(3) (Thus far the work horse of the multi-family low-
income housing program); and the 235, 235 (j) and 236 programs authorized in the
1968 Housing Act, are all designed to provide standard housing for those families
whose incomes are just above the Public Housing level but not sufficient to enable
them to compete for standard housing in the private enterprise open market, as it
is now constituted,
Recent survey, conducted by a private group, showed that more than 80%
of the existing and projected Public Housing units in the Atlanta Metropolitan
area are located within the City of Atlanta. Furthermore, the FHA 221 d(3)
moderate income housing program is prohibited by Federal law from going in any
area that does not have a certified Workable Program. (None of the Counties
in the Atlanta Metropolitan area have certified Workable Proueania, ) This
restriction however does not apply to the FHA 235 or 236 moderate income housing
programs authorized by the 1968 Housing Act.
Since the metropolitan Seed outside the Atlanta City Limits provides job
opportunities and employment for sucha large portion of the Atlanta Metropolitan
population and constitutes the primary base for the growth of the Metropolitan area,
it is only just and reasonable that low-rent Public Housing units and Federally
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assisted moderate income housing be more equitably distributed beyond the City
Limits of Atlanta, @
At the present time, in Atlanta's current housing program, locations are
needed for 2, 261 Public Housing units to meet reservations already requested by
the City and saproved by the Housing Assistance Administration of HUD. Also,
Federal reservations and sites are needed for an additional 1, 936 Public Housing
units in order to meet the City's 5-year goal in this important category.
Under existing Federal policies, the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta
is authorized to produce (build, buy or lease) and operate Public Housing units
‘within 10 miles distance of Atlanta City Limits, provided the locations are not
within the jurisdiction of another legally constituted Housing Authority and if the
governing body of the administrative jurisdiction in which the developments are to
be located consents and agrees to provide the necessary community facilities,
Since the FHA 235 and 236 housing aTORaals do not require Workable
Programs nor formal agreement by the local administrative bodies to provide
community facilities, there is an opportunity under these programs for develop-
ments to be located in almost any administrative jurisdiction within the Atlanta
Metropolitan area,
We, members of the Housing Locations Panel of the Housing Resources
Committee, believe that adequate physical sites exist (but not without serious
problems as to availability), both within the City Limits of Atlanta and in the
unincorporated areas of adjacent counties, to meet current and future low-
income housing needs, without detriment to any group or neighborhood. However,
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many tests such as zoning, government agency approval, price, utilities, and
availability must be passed, These tests greatly limit site acquisition. We
also feel that not all future Public Housing units or Federally assisted moderate
income housing should be located within the City of Atlanta.
We further feel that within the City of Atlanta, Public Housing should be
dispersed and that Public Housing developments outside the City should be located
near sources of employment for the occupants, in developments of not to exceed
200-300 units each.
We also believe that home ownership for both moderate and low-income
families should be encouraged, where ever possible and that private enterprise
should continually be encouraged to produce needed housing in all categories,
We welcome all efforts to produce housing through private enterprise and hope
that ways and means will be found to create housing through this traditional method,
We further feel that Atlanta urgently needs a comprehensive ae. of the
Zoning Ordinance and complete rezoning of the entire City (not done since 1954)
in order to best meet the City's needs in many fields, to include adequate provision
for low-income housing of all categories,
Since residential construction is largely channeled cost-wise in economic
strata, through requirements on minimum lot sizes authorized for respective
Zoning Districts, thereby limiting upper brackets on construction costs which are
practical for the various categories, it follows that apartment zoning might just
as logically also have several categories, with some particular categories geared
to low-rent Public Housing and to Federally assisted housing programs, suchas
the FHA 221 d(3), 235 and 236,
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We therefore recommend and urge the following:
a.
Prompt mutual cooperation and assistance of public bodies in the
Atlanta Metropolitan area in providing adequate sites for low-income
housing, including Public Housing, preferably in small developments
not exceeding 200-300 units each, distributed throughout the Atlanta
Metropolitan area and insofar as feasible, in reasonable proximity
to sources of employment for the occupants,
That home ownership projects be sponsored and encouraged where
ever possible for both moderate and low-income families.
That private enterprise seek to enter the field of low-income housing.
That a comprehensive review and rezoning of the entire City of Atlanta
be made as soon as possible to meet the constantly expanding needs
of the City; and
That consideration be given to establishing separate apartment zoning
categories for Federal assisted multi-family housing developments,
That the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta actively seek
appropriate locations, both within and outside the City Limits of Atlanta,
with view to establishment and operation of Public Housng developments
thereon in groups of not to exceed 200-300 units each,
That the Housing Locations Panel of the Housing Resources Committee
meet and confer with County Commissioners of adjoining counties, encouragin)
their cooperation and active participation in locating some low-rent
Public Housing units and moderate income housing developments in
appropriate locations within their respective jurisdiction.
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SIGNED: