03-13-72 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING MARCH 13, 1972 REGULAR MEETING - CONTINUED RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION NO. 298 -72 A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL REGARDING PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE MODEL CITIES AREA WHEREAS, The South Bend Common Council has, heretofore, expressed its opposition to the erection of any more public housing units in the part of the city West of Michigan Street until more units are erected East of Michigan Street, and WHEREAS, the over -all plan for the development of the Model Cities Area approved by the Model Neighborhood Planning Agency, calls for the construction of some public housing units on scattered sites within the Model Cities Area, and WHEREAS, the Council views the construction of public housing on scattered sites within the Model Cities Area as an exception to its program on balancing public housing in the various areas of the City, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend. Indiana: That the Council will interpose no objections to the construction of additional public housing units on scattered sites in the Model Cities Area. /s/ Odell Newburn Member of the Common Council A Public Hearing on this resolution was held at this time. Mrs. Louvenia Cain, 1207 W. Washing- ton Street, Co- Chairman of the Housing Committee of the Model Cities Program, spoke in favor of the resolution. She said there are 16 lots available now in the Model Cities Area and that housing is needed for families with eight and nine children. Mr. Peter Bognar, 805 W. Washington Street, said that he is not opposed to public housing but is opposed to putting additional housing in this area. He said it was his understanding that the Council had said no more public housing units would be built in the Model Cities area until some is built in other parts of the city. He asked why all the public housing should be located in the Model Cities area. Mrs. Lee Swan, 2022 Swygart Street, said that of 500 low income public housing sites, all but 178 of them are West of Michigan Street. Councilman Miller said it was his understanding that all of the sites under the turnkey housing program were on the east side of South Bend. Mr. Johan O'Brien, 1523 N. College, Director of the City Housing Authority, said that there are 898 public .housing units. The Model Cities area has 501 units, or 56% and that to break it down dividing the city at Michigan Street, 790% are located West of Michigan Street and 21% East of Michigan Street. If the city is divided into quarters with Western Avenue and Michigan Street as the center, there are 578 units in the southwest quarter, 178 in the northwest quarter, 127 in the northeast quarter, and 88 in the southeast quarter. In the Plaza Hi -Rise Building there are 141 units for the elderly and 94 family units. Mrs. Swan continued that there are enough low income units in the Model Cities area. More would cause overcrowding in the schools, predominately black neighborhoods, and constitute de facto segregation. She feels the remaining units should be built East of Michigan Street and urged the Council to vote nay on the resolution. Councilman Newburn said citizens of the Model Cities area have the right to stay in that area if they want to and that building more units within the Model Cities area would allow people to upgrade their housing and give them the choice of the neighborhood they want to live in. Councilman Parent questioned the legality of the Council passing such a resolution. City Attorne3 Charles Sweeney, Jr. said the Council could adopt such a resolution, which may or may not be constitutional, but it would not have any binding effect on anybody. He said if the question is "Does the Council have the power to enact ordinances to legislate where people will find available 'public housing ?" the answer is yes until a court of law says no. Councilman Szymkowiak said that the Model Cities program originated with the understanding that there would be public housing built in the Model Cities area, because many of the homes now existing in the area are in need of replacement or repair. Many of these people want to continue to live in the neighborhood where they have lived for 30 to 40 years. These units in the Model Cities area would be replacement for existing housing, not new people in the area. Mr. Charles Watkins, Deputy City Controller, said that Mayor Miller was invited to attend a meeting in the Model Cities area and that this resolution expresses the feeling not only of the Council but of the majority of the Model Cities residents. They want to improve their property and need new housing sites, also. Mr. Bognar said that these 16 proposed sites would not even touch the problem of needed housing. Mr. Charles Lennon, Director of the Model Cities Program, said that it is a beginning and that 703 residents in the Model Cities area need decent homes. Scattered sites will be a start and they are hopeful that private contractors will want to come in and build in the Model Cities area. Gerald Reinke, 1221 Ridgedale Drive, a former City Councilman, said that he had signed a similar resolution before the former Council because one of the developers who had a commitment to build public housing was unable to find 12 sites needed on the East Side. There was no property available but there were sites in the Model Cities area. He feels that if public housing is built in the Model Cities area it will bring private developers in. Reginald Howard, 823 W. Indiana Avenue, said that Model Cities within itself was supposed to be a unique.program. Under HUD's new selection site criteria for 235 homes, Model Cities was excluded. Councilman Szymkowiak asked the price range of the homes to be built. Mr. Lennon said they would range from $18,000 - $19,000 to $23,500 for four bedroom dwellings, and would have minimum maintenance using brick wherever possible. Councilman Kopczynski asked how many residents there are in the Model Cities area. According to the 1960 census figures, there were 15,000. Density of popula- tion in Model Cities area is 14.7 per acre as compared with 7.0 per acre in other parts of the city. Councilman Taylor said he thinks this resolution will give the total overall view of the Council concerning public housing and also upgrading the Model Cities area. This would provide the residents an opportunity, through this program, to better themselves. Councilman Miller said that he takes a positive attitude toward the concept of public housing and that the east side of South Bend is in need of more housing for the eldazly. Model Cities wants public housing and the Model Cities staff should be able to find out exactly what is wanted in the area. Councilman Parent said that he favors the concept of public housing and that the east side of South Bend needs it, but the immediate problem is Model Cities. Councilman Kopczynski asked how many public housing units are now vacant. Mr. O'Brien answered that 64 units, or 7 %, are vacant. There are 300 families waiting for housing now. Councilman Newburn restated his feeling that the people should have the right to live in the neighborhood they choose. They would like