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Keeping the Promise -- FULL TEXT |
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Keeping the Promise
50 Years of the
Housing
Authority
of the City of Asheville
1940-1990 |
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In February, 1940, the Asheville Citizen Times'
headlines announced 41% of all homes in Asheville were "substandard"
compared to the national average of 33%. "Substandard" designated homes as
having physical and overcrowding conditions that made them dangerous to the
health of occupants. According to the City Planning Board, 832 homes were
without running water; 8,375 homes lacked central heat; 1,459 homes had
neither gas nor electricity; 3,531 homes had no baths; and 1,691 homes had
no flush toilets. Further accounts showed that many or the poor fortunate
enough to have running water and flush toilets were commonly deprived of
their use during winter months because they stayed frozen-over for days at a
time. Spurred to action by President Roosevelt's Depression Recovery
program, including the new Federal Housing Act, Asheville's citizens decided
to take a look at the City's other side. Heated debates proved few could
deny the need to rid Asheville of the suffering and pestilence perpetuated
by overcrowded and inadequate living conditions, but few could agree on the
best plan to wipe out the misery. Concerned citizens called for a City
Council decision on May 3, 1940. Nearly 100 people crowded council chambers
that fateful day. "Arguments, questions, hisses, laughter and applause" for
both sides filled the room. Leading the attack on Asheville's "disease
infested hovels" was Major H.P. MacDonald, longtime Salvation Army leader.
Major MacDonald emphasized "he had been in many cities, but had never seen
before the abject poverty he found in the West End Section or Asheville."
"This community has no more right to take the life of a citizen by bad
housing than by adulterated food or by killing him some other way," argued
A.R. Gephart, Executive Secretary of the Community Chest. Representing the
building trades union, Arthur T. Rust upheld the President's new program,
proclaiming, "the greatest thing Roosevelt has ever done—the greatest
Democratic act of that great Democrat, has been to make America
slum-conscious." Other business leaders including Theodore B. Sumner and J.G.
Stikeleather, members of the Asheville Board of Realtors, refuted Rust,
claiming slum clearance would be best accomplished through private capital,
assaulting President Roosevelt's housing program as a wild expenditure and
"the last straw."
"HAPPY TO INFORM YOU"
Asheville's heart-rending stories of human suffering finally swayed City
Council members to President Roosevelt's "slum-consciousness" and the |
[Sidebar] Housing & Redevelopment
Commissioners
Wayne Bramlett
1940-41
A.T. Rust
1940-42,
1949-54
Arthur E. Dunn
1940-41
W.J. Damtoft
1940-41
R.L. Ellis
1940
Verne Rhoades
1940-42
John G. Deshler
1941-42
Walter I. Abernathy
1941-1942
William P. Gearing
1941-42
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establishment of the Housing Authority of the
City of Asheville. On June 12, 1940, five community representatives were
appointed to the new Housing Authority Commission by Mayor Bryson. Dedicated
to reconstructing human character by removing slums, the founding lathers of
today's Housing Authority were: A.T. Rust; Wayne Bramlett; Arthur E. Dun;
W.J. Damtoff; and R.L. Ellis, elected chairman.
Eagerly adopting by-laws and electing officers, the
first Commissioners immediately resolved to process applications for $2
million from the U.S. Housing Authority to construct Asheville's first
public housing units and sought $1,000 in start-up expenses from the City of
Asheville. The Housing Authority and the City entered into a cooperation
agreement guaranteeing the provision or city services for future housing
projects. Highlighting the agreement was a special provision titled,
"Payment in Lieu of Taxes" which continues to provide a yearly payment from
the Housing Authority for City services as the Authority pays no property
taxes.
In January, 1941, Washington telegrammed Asheville
Commissioners: "Happy to inform you that the USHA has made an earmarking of
$700,000 for Asheville...." triggering the Authority to hire its first
executive director, Attorney Clarence N. Walker. A man with obvious deep
convictions and concern for the poor, Walker insisted against spending too
much money on land acquisition or administration because it would take away
from the funds to benefit the occupants of new units. Walker and architect
Henry Gaines spent many days visiting "projects" in Charlotte and Atlanta in
preparation for Asheville's 36-page application for Federal Housing Funds.
Editorially hailed as Asheville's "cherished civic
endeavor," the Authority's application was approved by President Roosevelt
in the summer of 1941, only to be suspended a few months later by emergency
defense appropriations. Shocked to action by the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, America dove into the frenzy of WW II. With no need for defense
housing in Asheville, salaries and expenses were discontinued as of May 31,
1942 and the Housing Authority became inactive.DECENT, SAFE, AND
SANITARY HOUSING
It was not until January 3, 1949—reactivation day for
the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville—that the Authority's work
began again in earnest, rededicated to "Keeping the Promise," providing
decent, safe and |
[Sidebar] Rev. John W. Tuton
1949-63
John T. Rogers
1949-60
Joseph L. Hunter
1949-56
Ralph P. Grant
1949-52
W.T. Duckworth, Jr.
1952-54
Robert F. Campbell
1954
Dr. Robert E. Daniels
1954-63
Moore Bryson
1954-58
Robert Hipps
1956-61
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[Image] House [Image] Picture of
man with elbow on knee, learning chin on hand. |
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[Image] Man reading on porch.
[Image] Close-up of man in above image. |
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sanitary housing for needy human kind.
The Asheville Housing Authority began developing its first housing site in
1950, a $26,000, 12 1/2-acre tract or land just off Biltmore Avenue. Under
the leadership of Henry A. Johnson, the first executive director to have
previous public housing experience, the Authority dedicated Asheville's
first low-income housing project, Lee-Walker Heights, on May 25, 1951. The
new development was named after the late Professor W.S. Lee of Stephens-Lee
High School and Dr. J.W. Walker, deceased tuberculosis specialist. Opening
day kept seven secretaries busy taking applications after a numbering system
had to be implemented to handle the 350 applicants for the 96 modern
apartments.
1952 was a productive year for the Housing Authority as
it opened its second public housing development, Pisgah View Apartments.
February 29 of that year was a very proud moment for Housing Officials as
they presented their first "rent share in lieu of taxes" to the City in a
check for $670.93, setting the stage for a long and successful relationship
between the Authority and the City of Asheville.
A third housing project, Hillcrest Apartments, welcomed
its first residents in December, 1959. With the creation of these new
housing developments, the management and maintenance capabilities of the
Authority were developed and refined. But while progress on new low-income
housing development continued throughout the 50's, another, more formidable
task, faced the city of Asheville.
RESTORING ASHEVILLE'S NEIGHBORHOODS
New developments such as Lee-Walker, Pisgah View and Hillcrest brought
decent, affordable housing to many, but large areas of substandard housing
and poverty still plagued Asheville. These neighborhoods, suffering from
years of neglect and lack of resources, fueled the need for the new
subsidized housing units.
To address the task of eliminating slums and blight and restoring
Asheville's neighborhoods, the Redevelopment Commission was formed in 1958.
The Commission began utilizing federal funds to carry out the costly
redevelopment work. The Civic Redevelopment Project, a clearance project
between City-County Plaza and I-240, and Market Street to the Beaucatcher
Tunnel, produced $16,266.77 in ad valorem taxes in 1964, when the project |
[Sidebar] Eugene P. Coston
1958-69
J.O. Buchanan
1959-63
Walter H. Lee
1960-63
Dr. F. Stuart Chapin
1961-64
Jesse Ray
1963-64,
1971-87
Dr. Joseph Schandler
1963-68
Mrs. W. Ralph (Nell) Walls
1963-65
Robert M. Felkel
1963-68
Dr. John P. Holt
1964-67
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began. The area currently produces almost
$360,000 in annual revenue to the City and County.
By 1966, the City was collecting nearly $18,000 per
year from the Housing Authority in "lieu of taxes." The East Riverside
Redevelopment Program, a 407-acre project begun in 1968, was the largest
project in size in the southeast. The program was a
conservation/rehabilitation program which eliminated severely dilapidated
housing, began the housing rehabilitation efforts in Asheville, improved
streets and utility systems and assembled land on major thoroughfares and
near the hospitals for redevelopment.
The Authority purchased its first piece of property in
the East Riverside Renewal Area, 3 1/2 acres destined for Aston Park Towers
and the new Authority Administration Building on South French Broad Avenue.
The substandard housing removed in the East Riverside area was replaced unit
for unit with federal assistance by the Housing Authority.
City redevelopment was becoming a major movement in
Asheville in 1967, an effort with which the Authority had always been
closely associated. When urban renewal chief James W. Greer resigned,
Housing Authority executive director Carl Vaughn assumed that position in
addition to his Housing Authority duties, setting up the framework for the
agencies' formal merger. In 1971 the Housing Authority and the Redevelopment
Commission were merged under the directorship of Ray Wheeling.CITIZEN
INVOLVEMENT SPARKS A NEW ERA
Urban redevelopment and the creation of new low-income
housing brought great changes to the Asheville community. Even greater
changes were underway simultaneously, however, as the movement for civil
rights and social equality began to change the face of agencies like the
Housing Authority. During the late 50's, debate began on the ethics and
legality of segregated public housing. As with most housing authorities,
Asheville struggled with the segregation issue throughout the 60's,
achieving compliance with federal mandates in the early 70's.
The increase in civic involvement and a renewed federal commitment to
domestic issues during the 60's sparked the establishment of a wide range of
new services and programs at the Housing Authority. October, 1965 marked the
Opportunity Corporation's establishment of a model day-care training center
at Hillcrest Apartments under the new Federal Economic Opportunity |
[Sidebar] Dr. Ivan W. Parkins
1964-67
Ralph D. Barbour
1965-69
Joseph S. Wilkins
1967-69
Roy S. Whitmire
1967-69
Rev. P.F. De Saix
1968-69.
1970-71
Don Moore
1968
W.M. Morgan
1968
Dr. J.C. Wilson
1969-70
Robert S. Webb
1969-73
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[Caption] A check for $11,700,
an advance loan from
the USPH Administration,
is deposited in the First
National Bank by Robert
Creighton, executive director.
Robert W. Wells and A.T. Rust
look on.
[Caption] Housing Authority and construction company executives sign
contracts for the building of Lee-Walker Heights, June 4, 1950. |
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Keeping the Promise 'Keeping the Promise," the theme for our fiftieth anniversary celebration is
quite timely and appropriate as we take time out to reflect upon the diverse
history of the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville.
Faced with a depressed economy, deteriorating
neighborhoods, slum areas and low morale of the citizens, our forefathers,
fifty years ago, set forth an aggressive, flexible, well thought-out plan of
action. This plan provided hope, inspiration and determination to change the
face of the Asheville community.
The plan promised to restore the economy, to eliminate
slums and blighting influences in the community, to rebuild and restore
deteriorating neighborhoods, and to place every citizen in Asheville in a
safe, sanitary, and decent living environment.
Since 1940, we have modified the plan many times, but
have held fast to the "Promise" and the original intent of our forefathers.
The first 96 units were completed in 1950, and since that time, Asheville
has amassed over 3,000 units of low-income housing or varying degrees of
housing assistance, serving approximately 9,000 people. Three sections of
the City have been completely restored and the fourth is underway, assisting
an additional 10,000 people, leaving only small pockets of deterioration for
future endeavors. It is estimated that the Asheville Housing Authority
programs daily impact the lives of one-third of Asheville's population.
We can say with a great deal of pride and sincerity
that the quality of life has been greatly improved for many of our citizens
of Asheville and Buncombe County.
While we strive to continue to keep the "Promise",
having made substantial progress, there are still promises to keep and miles
to go before we sleep.
David Jones,
Executive Director |
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Performance & Commitment
Performance and commitment. The Housing Authority of
Asheville now enjoys a leading status in the Southeast. Professionalism
began during the 1970 merger of Asheville's Urban Redevelopment Commission
and the Housing Authority. It is presently the only combined agency in the
State of North Carolina.
That year the authority's first professional executive director completed
projects and brought new directions. Teams of employees at every level have
since been trained and certified by professional redevelopment and housing
organizations. To witness twenty years of continued aggressive
administrative planning, careful legal counsel, a well-informed board of
commissioners, and a working team of employees has made me very proud of the
authority's success and commitment to the community.
Under our current professional director's leadership, training has become an
ongoing task to meet rapid change in federal regulations, and now the
training of residents for tenant management and home ownership is the goal
for the nineties. Perhaps the nature of low income public housing will once
again become "temporary housing," until the younger residents save that
amount of money needed to afford a home of their own.
Margaret (Peggy) B. Shook
Chair, Board of Commissioners |
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[Collage of images of people and
buildings related to the Housing Authority.] |
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[Collage of images of people and
buildings related to the Housing Authority.] |
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[Collage of images of people and
buildings related to the Housing Authority.] REDEVELOPMENT is used to impact areas in two
ways: to acquire and raze blighted structures and encourage suitable
rebuilding; and to make loans available for the rehabilitation of
substandard structures. The Asheville Redevelopment Commission was created
in 1958 and merged with the Housing Authority in 1971. |
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[Collage of images of people and
buildings related to the Housing Authority.] THE YOUTH ENRICHMENT PROGRAM was
founded 13 years ago as a deterrent to juvenile delinquency in public
housing. Asheville's program is recognized as a "model" for HUD's new "Youth
Sports/Cultural Program." Director John Hayes has helped countless young men
and women gain self confidence through sports, educational programs, and
other activities.
THE SECTION 8 RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAM provides
assistance to families and individuals living in privately-owned homes
throughout the city and county. |
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[Aerial views.] |
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Act which simultaneously initiated hundreds or
day-care centers across the nation. The Authority's first tenant's
association was created at Pisgah View in January, 1966, with Mr. Lanford
Crisp as president.
A face-lift for the Authority's first housing
communities was begun by Authority director Carl Vaughn, including
playground renovation, new landscaping, and outdoor lighting. Prompted by
public housing's predicted decline as a "perfect solution" to Asheville's
poor, Vaughn swore to "break the traditional boundaries between tenant and
landlord by working together to make housing communities a place in which
residents will be proud to live," for the harsh reality of there being a
"stigma to poverty and housing projects" had dawned on many residents. Yet,
with all their imperfections, studies showed more public housing units were
greatly needed in Asheville, particularly for the elderly and handicapped.
Most remember 1968 as a very chaotic year for the
Housing Authority. 1968 found tenants from Hillcrest and Lee-Walker
developments on strike, refusing to pay their rent until maintenance
complaints were resolved. Claiming executive director Vaughn was not
responsive to their needs, the group demanded the director's ouster,
resulting in Vaughn's resignation that January.
Across the nation, housing authorities began realizing
that housing problems went much deeper than "simply providing four walls for
tenants." Project managers were designated "Social Workers" and a full-time
social service worker was hired to help tenants in recognition of this new
"national revelation."
The Authority's first elderly-handicapped public
housing complex, Erskine-Walton Apartments, was opened in September, 1970.
Altamont Apartments and Aston Park Tower followed in 1971. With the merger
or the Housing Authority and the Redevelopment Commission that year,
executive director Ray Wheeling took over responsibilities for both
agencies.
At the end of 1970, HUD favored leasing rather than
building new units. Construction of three such complexes was begun in 1971,
Bingham Heights, Deaverview and Kirkwood Apartments. Single family, low-rent
housing, a long-time request from Asheville citizens, became a reality with
the construction of Klondyke and Eastview Homes in 1974-75.
Accepting a position with the Charlotte Housing
Authority, Ray Wheeling left Asheville in 1974, and was replaced as
executive director by Wilbur C. King. Formerly associated with Asheville's
urban renewal program, King served |
Harold H. Moore
1969-70Dr. Otis B. Michael
1969
Jack Stewart
1969-74
Rev. J. David Armstrong
1969-71
Robert V. Mathison
1970-71
Margaret (Peggy) B. Shook
1970-present
Luther Thigpen
1971-77
J.D. Jackson
1973-80
H. Phil Shook II
1974-79
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until his
retirement in 1976. David Jones, Jr. assumed interim duties and was later
appointed executive director of the Asheville Housing Authority in January
of 1977. 1977 saw the initiation of the Federal Section 8 Housing Program,
further shifting the government from public housing construction to
providing subsidies for the rental of privately owned homes and apartments.
Redevelopment's next undertaking was the 250-acre East End-Valley Street
Community Improvement Project, funded with Community Development Block
Grants. Bartlett Arms, Asheville's next development for the elderly and
handicapped, opened its doors in April, 1979. Livingston Heights and several
scattered site apartments quickly followed.
HOUSING INNOVATION IN THE 80'S
Always a leader in innovative housing programs, the Asheville Housing
Authority formed a new corporation to aid in financing an additional 248
unit elderly Section 8 complex on Tunnel Road called Asheville Gardens, LTD
in 1980. In 1983, the Housing Authority proudly accepted a national award
from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for its
unique $1.00 building lots program in the East Riverside Urban Development
Area, where buyers paid $1.00 in exchange for a promise to build a new,
single family home. 1984 kicked-off Pack Plaza's redevelopment efforts.
Another milestone in 1985 was the Housing Authority's formation or a second
non-profit corporation called Asheville Assisted Housing to purchase Bingham
Heights Apartments upon expiration or its lease.
The Asheville Housing Authority has long been recognized as a pace setter
in housing programs through such efforts as: Pilot Project Self-Sufficiency;
Drug Prevention and Control; Crime Fighting and Victim Assistance; Job
Training Internship Programs; and the Resident Management and Resident Home
Ownership Initiative.
According to Executive Director David Jones, Jr. "the original goal of
assisted housing was to provide temporary housing to the family or
individual until such time that they could improve their financial
situation..." Encouraging residents to take control or crime and drugs in
their own communities and providing a "step-up" toward self sufficiency and
home ownership, the Authority continues to assist residents toward that
original goal —supplying necessary housing to those in need while treating
the whole person. |
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[Images of people related to the
Housing Authority.] |
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[Image of a door.] |
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Innovation
continues to pay off for the Housing Authority Residents Council. Forming its
own non-profit corporation, the Resident's Council has contracted with the
Housing Authority for ground maintenance, general facilities
maintenance/apartment reconditioning and moving services. Employing its
own housing residents as staff, the Council has purchased and maintains its
own equipment. These contracts have grossed the Residents Council
approximately $200,000.
Current plans are underway for the Residents Council to offer Public
Housing rental insurance under which selected residents would be trained and
licensed as insurance agents.
A "Zero Tolerance" Policy for substance abuse/drug trafficking among
residents and employees has been adopted by the Authority.
Project H.A.N.D.—Housing Against Narcotics and Drugs focuses on the
reduction and elimination of drug use and sales within Public Housing.
Funded by a North Carolina State grant, HAND components include the
implementation of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program, neighborhood
involvement and participation and neighborhood enrichment and economic
development.
Under the general program, PROJECT YOUTHFUL H.A.N.D. emphasizes selecting
a number of residents to recruit Housing youth for participation in programs
designed to teach resistance techniques for alcohol and drug abuse. Michael
McLean is director.
Preventive Victim Assistance is designed to create a crime-free
environment for Public Housing residents and encourage crime victims to
"fight back." Residents are being taught to stand up for their rights as
victims and seek the help of community agencies such as Rape Crisis, Help
Mate, and the Western N.C. Child Abuse Center.
Program Director Linda James is developing a unique computer tracking
method for compiling crime statistics in Public Housing and Section 8
between participating agencies and police and will train several residents
as counselors and group workers.
Resident Management/Home Ownership programs play a major part in the
Authority's Self-Sufficiency Plan for residents. Three residents from
Hillcrest Apartments have been trained and certified as Public Housing
Managers and are now operating their own Housing community.
In addition to Resident Management, Hillcrest Apartments are also |
Authority Directors Clarence N. Walker
1941-42
Robert K. Creighton
1949-50
Henry A. Johnson
1950-54
Harrill Wood
1954-60
Keith Bradley
1960-65
Carl Vaughn
1966-68
W.J. Groome
1968-70
R. Curtis Ratcliff
1970-71
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undergoing over $5 million in modernization in preparation
for the sale of renovated units to qualified residents.
Another plan will give the opportunity to all Housing
residents to eventually purchase their own homes in private neighborhoods
through a special "ceiling rent" contributory savings program for downpayments, if they qualify to make payments.
"KEEPING THE PROMISE": THE NEXT 50 YEARS
As we reflect on our 50th Anniversary, we take pride in
the tremendous improvement in human living conditions accomplished by the
Asheville Housing Authority since 1940, fully realizing the years ahead
present incredible challenges in the continuation of our pledge "to provide
decent, safe and sanitary housing" where the need exists.
These pages provide a glimpse of the many programs, employees and
residents responding to the critical challenge of the 90's and beyond. As we
begin our next 50 years, the Asheville Housing Authority renews its
commitment to those in need through the words or Thomasine Smith, Klondyke
Homes Manager, in her poem, "Keeping the Promise":
Working together
Understanding others' needs
A great Fifty years
And may greater ones be
This 50th Anniversary Report
is dedicated with gratitude to Jesse G. Ray and
Margaret B. Shook, who together have given the
Housing Authority of the City of Asheville many
years of invaluable service.
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Ray Wheeling
1971-74Wilbur C. King
1974-76
David Jones, Jr.
1976-present
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