03-07-38 Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes

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12 CO.MMITTET OF THE WHOLE MEETT G MARCH kith, 1939 MINUTES Be it remembered that the.Common Council met in the Committee of the Whole meet`.ng in the Counci: Chambers of the City Hall, Monday evening March th, at the hour of 15:35 P. M. All members were present. Cheirmen Goetz presided., Councilman Chnmber.s re-d the following report from the Housing Committee: March 7th, 1939 Members of the Common Council South Bend, Indian, Gentlemen Your committee on low c ^st housing, appointed by the president of the council rs result of resolution introduced by the mayor requesting ruthority for the appointment of a. housing ruthor- i-ty, pursuant to the Acts of 1937 Chapter 207, Section 4, respectfully submit the follow'ng report for your considerrtion: Where2s there are now looted in the city of South Bend severer hundred available vrcant resid- ences, all in a reason -rble strte of repair and at rents from $12.50 to $30.00 per month, m^ny of which houses are modern in facilities: and Whereas, recent amendments of .the Feder - =1 Housing Act by the United St ;F.tes Congress permit in- dividuals desiring to erect homes, to borrow from rprroved lending institutions up to 90fo of the appraised vrlue of the completed residence, including the value of the'lof, if the total is $6,000.00 or.less; and Wherers, this Peme not provides for the borrowing up to �Ofo of the total appraised vrlue of com- pleted proj.ect. by i•ndividurls rnd /or corrporrti „or,s for building of homes for sale or for rent; en Whereas, it is the belief of this committee that as soon as employment in our local industries improve, thrt 7- rivrte capital anal. individuals orning lots will nvs.i,l themselves of the insured. mortgage plan of finrncing, set up under the Amended Federal Housing Administrz�tiion'Act; and Wherers, in the opinion of the committee, there is no substrntial e.mcunt of unsanitary rand crowd ed housinv- condition in South Bend (except where such crowding is due to voluntary doubling up due to rx esent wide sprerd unem?)loyment) ; and. Whereas, the epprovrl by the Common Council of the Pppointment by the fn ^.y or of a housing r.uthari ty would result, in the opinion of the committee, in the furnishing of funds for the first year' ad.ministrrtive expenses;and Where ^s, such housing ruthority would be unrble to obtain finances from the United States Housing Authority without first hiving furnished an equity in the form of cash, bonds and./or lend equal to 1CA of my proposed project, plus rn oblig ^tion to subsidize the difference between the ex- pected rentrl income and the tot,- =1 cost of maintenance, and emortizration of the proposes slum clenrrnce profec't; It is the belief of this committee that there is at this time no need of the ore tir_g of a, hous- ing authority. Therefore, your committee respectfully recom:�lends thrt a determination be mr de by the Common Council that there is no need at this time of ^ crention of e housing authority foi the city of South Bend. Respectfully submitted, William Rasmussen' Fred G. Kerner Howard L. Chambers, Ch €.irm °.n Councilman Chambers moved thrt�- the?:resolution cresting &:Housing Commission at this time be tabled.. -Councilman Bierw- -gen seconded the motion. Rev. B1 ley spoke in favor of r housing commission. A representative from the South Bend Industr•ir.l Housing Committee (O.I.C.) spoke in fr:vor of a housing commission. Stste C.I.O. -representative spoke in favor of a housing commibsio,n. Councilman Jemes moved to amend Councilman Chambers' motion that the resolution creating a hous- ing co- mission rat this time, be referred to the City P1en Commission for exrminati.om of pro - b ^ble cost and rentrl of F. H. A. end the suitable number of houses needed. Councilman Palicki seconded the motion. PSotion carried.. Chrirmbn Goetz announced thrt Ordin.rnce #3246 will be taken up on March 14th. Councilman -Hull moved to adjourn. Counci.lmrr. Kerner seconded the motion. giotion ea.rried. Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 11 :30 Y. M. APPROVED: ATTEST: CHAIRMAN •C L ERK s