In our century

In the mid-1930s, interest in eliminating slum conditions in cities and creating safe, decent low-rent housing swelled among city officials. How exactly to accomplish such changes in urban landscapes was a source of great debate, followed closely by The American City.

The federal Public Works Administration jump-started some projects, clearing slums and erecting replacement housing in cities across the country as part of the New Deal. The first of those national housing projects to go into operation in the United States was dedicated in Atlanta on Sept. 1, 1936. It had 604 units on 25 acres, replacing one of the worst slum areas in the city, according to the October 1936 edition of The American City. The buildings included three- to five-room apartments and five- and six-room houses, and they were grouped around grassy courtyards and play areas. The $3.1 million development was built and managed by the Public Works Administration’s Housing Division. Anyone who earned more than five times the monthly rental fee ($16.40 for a three-room apartment to $27.85 for a six-room row house) could not rent a unit. The most numerous occupations of the first Techwood Homes tenants included clerks, service men, office helpers, salesmen and small business operators.

Cities received another infusion of federal assistance for slum-clearing under the Housing Act of 1949. They rallied to organize public housing efforts to take advantage of the funding, the importance of which was expressed by Birmingham, Ala., Mayor W. Cooper Green in his presidential message to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in May 1950. “The slum clearance and housing program now developing poses a real challenge to municipal officials,” Green said. “It offers us our first opportunity for a start in the tremendous job of wiping out our cancerous, blighted areas and making our own communities better places in which to work and live. It is a job long overdue, and in doing it we will not only attack at their root the many social and economic problems that mushroom with the spread of slums but will accomplish constructive physical redevelopment that will contribute to the healthy growth and welfare of our cities.”

Previous “In our century” Stories

• In our century — November 1916
  Cities and counties open libraries to supply free access to books and educational materials for children and adults
• In our century — September 1918
  Cities build memorials as community buildings instead of obelisks to pay tribute to soldiers in the Great War
• In our century — January 1941
  Cities develop public relations efforts to inform residents about municipal activities and improve customer service
• In our century — December 1930
  Cities do what they can to put residents to work in the early days of the Great Depression
• In our century — October 1915
  Winter weather regularly demands that cities improve practices for clearing snow and ice from streets
• In our century — January 1911
  As aviation takes off, cities make use of the quick mode of transportation and secure their spots on the aerial highways
• In our century — May 1928
  Police departments adopt radio technology to dispatch patrol officers more quickly and catch, deter criminals
• In our century — December 1913
  Cities adopt the city manager form of government to improve administration and bring efficiency to operations
• In our century — October 1913
  Cities take action in the earliest days of motion pictures to regulate content and ensure theater safety
• In our century — July 1935
  Cities install parking meters in business districts to improve traffic flow, reduce car damage and generate revenue
• In our century — April 1910
  Cities organize July Fourth events, regulate fireworks to reduce Independence Day injuries and deaths
• In our century — May 1915
  Cities seize revenue-generating opportunities to provide ice and refrigeration to residents and businesses
• In our century — May 1914
  Officials invest in maps to guide public projects, improve city administration and communicate plans to the public
• In our century — September 1915
  Technology develops to ensure the safe movement of trains, cars and emergency vehicles through city streets
• In our century — July 1914
  Among the early efforts to improve public health, cities invent and seek weapons of mass fly destruction
• In our century — August 1913
  When bond issues fail, cities seek alternative funding for infrastructure improvements and other public projects
• In our century — August 1914
  Cities improve cleanliness and public health by strategically placing public restrooms and encouraging their use
• In our century — December 1914
  Cities begin the tradition of decorating enormous public Christmas trees to celebrate the holidays
• In our century — June 1910
  Government accounting methods and reports mature from vague and incomplete records to standard formats.
• In our century — October 1909
  Investigations into corruption and mismanagement lead to (some) reforms in government policies and operations.
• In our century — January 1913
  Cities experiment with road surfaces and set out methods for funding road construction and maintenance.
• In our century — September 1909
  Limits on outdoor advertising are set through cities’ hard-fought battles over billboard sizes, messages and locations.
• In our century — August 1911
  Fire departments gain authority, modern equipment to prevent and improve response times to structure fires.
• In our century — June 1910
  Street lights become symbols of communities’ economic success, and lighting technology efficiency evolves.
• In our century — September 1909
  With urban growth comes city leaders’ desire to control and direct it for the community’s greatest benefit.
• In our century — September 1909
  Cities embrace playgrounds as valuable public assets for children’s safety, health and social development.
• In our century — September 1909
  Women embrace public causes, work to improve their communities and expand their societal roles.
• In our century — March 1910
  Cities develop methods, mechanisms and regulations for residential solid waste collection and disposal.
• In our century — November 1909
  Occupancy laws and social workers emerge in the early 1900s to clean up inner-city neighborhoods.
• The way we were
  Publisher’s son remembers American City & County‘s roots.