Housing Progress in Puerto Rico, 1938-1948 by La Colección Puertorriqueña

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, n V. ^ ^ HOUSING PROGRESS IN PUERTO RICO 1938 - 1948

V/hen in th© latter part of 1937, the Congress of the United States

passed a HOUSING ACT, loaders in Puerto Rico saw a ray of hopo that probably somothing could bo done for the ^i^indrods of thousands of pooplo within their Island, living undor tho jnost horrible unsanitary conditions,

Te thoso loadors, a word of thanks is cortainly not misplacod, bocauso through their efforts and untiring cnthusiasm, tho Insular Logislaturc during thoir noxt sossion in 1958, passod a HOUSING ACT

koyod te tho ono passod in tho Unitod States, onabling Municipalitics to ostablish Local Housing Authoritics,

This cali to arias soon boro fruits, because in that same yoar fivo Local Authoritios wero logally ostablished, Ponce, San Juan,

Hayaguez, iVrecibo ond RÍo Piedras were the localities which establish;

od such authoritios»

Tho first thrco montionod, with jurisdiction

of oporation within tho boundarics of their respective towns, and tho one in Río Piedras, The Puerto Rico Housing Authority with Island

wido jurisdiotion, oxcept Ponce, San Juan and Mayaguez»

Tho ono

established in iirecibo, transforred its responsibilitics to the PRHA, so that actually four Local Housing Authorities are actively in oporation»

In passing the Insular Housing Act, financial assistance was also providod for, to onablo th© Local Authorities to prepare tho nocossary applications, roquircd by the Unitod States Housing Author ity, in Washington, D» C» Sinco little of tho information requlred by tho Washington Office

was readily at hand,. months and months of cffort woro nceded to produce tho nocossary nK^terials» A groat deal of time ms saved, howevor, bocauso the Ünitcd States

'^Housing Authority had established on Insular Field Office in San Juan. So instead of endlcss waiting for repites on questions, to bo clearod

-f ' "by boat mail, most of our inquirios could bo answerod iiunediately by the staff employoos of this Field Office, o

Up to today, all of us in tho Local Authoritios my boast of tho fine cooperation and coordination vre have oxperionoed fron all those staff employoes of this Federal Organization, Earnarking of funds for ílnoncial assistance by the tISHA ivoro

approved not too long after the Local Authoritios wcro established, but considerably more timo was required in the prcparation of working drawings ond spocifications» In the latter part of 1939, tho Ponce Author

ity v/ae finally suocessful in clearing all tho obstacles ond begin actual ccnstruotion» Soon thereaftor, tho Son Juan Authority and the RRHA follov/ed in thoir stride with the Mayaguez Authority coming i little later»

Cíi

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sistema de BIBLIOTECA"; U.P.R. _ R,o PIEDRAS

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^ e feb '093 ■T,atW,fi„;ii

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Roturning ones thoughts to the first hectic yoars of Public Housing in Puorto Rico, bring baok many menorios to problens to be solved, becausc Puorto Ricon conditions could in nost instances not bo comparod with any cxisting in thc Continental Ünited Statcs»

TVhatevor tho diffcronces may havo boen at that tino, all Puerto Rico Housing Authoritios havc boon successful in thoir ondoavor, ond today aftor ton yoars of opcration inay bo rightly proud of thoir accomplishmonts, (N

With tho Fodoral funds assignod to the four Local Authoritios, Ponoo had plannod six dovelopnonts; San Juan fourj Mayaguez two, ond IRHA. fourtoon, totaling approxiimtoly 14 nillion dollars,

Tho outbroak of Tforld War II in Docoiabor 1941, brought vdth it jnony unforosoon conditions, which to a lorge oxtont Joopardizod tho splendid start nado by the Local Authoritios, Sevei^l of the plannod devolopEionts had to be postponed, and Federal funds already assignod woro takon baok, v/ith tho undorstanding that as soon as poaco would bo declorod, reactivation of tho postponod dovelopmonts, could bo roquostod, Due to this action tho Ponco Authority was obligod to postpono ono of hor dovelopmonts, San Juan ono, and pRII^i two, All theso dovolopnents have now becn roactivated and ore oither complotod or undcr construction, Thc fvinds originally assignod to tho Author itios woro in most instances not sufflcient to build thc anticipated number of units, and funds fron othor sourcos had to be added to produce tho plannod homes,

Tho following is a sumary of devoloprionts, constructod with Fodoral assistancoi LOC/iTIONf

PROJECT NO»

NUMBER OF

KIND CP DEVELOPMENT

UlíITS

Ponoe

P.R.-l-l» "

300

1-2,

280^

1-3,

116

1-4, 1-5.

152

1-7.

523

210

Permanent dwollings, ti

Lond and Utilitios, n

Reactivated, now undor construction. Son Juan

P.R. 2-1, IC

2-2,

2-3,*

2-4,

k k

420 132 200

Permnont dwollings, "

I»

132

Tenporory dwellings (War omorgenoy)

k Reactivated, Bids have beon taken, award forthcoming, i i Housing for Vetorans, constructod with Vfar Etaergenoy Funds.

íé

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Puerto Rico Housing Authority, LOCATIOU:

PROJECT NUBBER.

Fajardo. Bonatí» Caguas•

P.R. 3-1»

210 A

3-2.

193 A

3-3. 3-4,

120 A 152 A

I'TUMBER OF UITITS,

Caguas•

Bayamon. Humacao..

1»

3-5,

89 A

3-6. 3-7, 3-8. 3-9.

KIM) OF DEVELOHáEKT.

Pomancnt DwellinGS. "

200 A 170 A

199 A

256 A A 227 A 100 A A

1»

Isabela»

Aguadilia» Río Piedras,

Yauco

Arecibo.

3-11,

Carolina. Guayana Catafío.

5-12.

3-14,

197 A 146 A

3-15.

160 A A

3-lCE.

«1

k Denotes Scni-rural dovolopnonts» A A Denotos TJrban devolopmcnts.

Tho dcvelopnonts in Guayaraa ánd Catafío vrero reactivatod, Catafío xs oonpleted anci fully occupiod, whilo in Guayam, tenont selection váll start soon and tenants v/ill bo ablo to novo in by the niddlc of Soptonbor 1948.

Mayague z,

P.R. 4-1.

^76

Pomancnt Dwollings,

S24 Land and Utility, Fron this surriary learn that 27 dcroloprionts havo becn built or aro under construction, acconmodatinG 5,768 famlios. Fren those "

4-2.

4, 579 will oventually livo in a ponnanent dvrellinG, 132 in scni- '

porrianont structiires (V/ac onergency homes in San Juan), and 1 057 have a parco! of land and wator and toilot facilitios, ' This nunbor of acoornodations is a substíintial amount. but the outbroak of tho mxr is to blar/is that this nunbor is not actually

doublod or tripled, sinco all"Authoritios v/ere wcll in a position

to produce a greatcr nunl^cr of dv/ollincs if Federal funds had been avallablo.

Public Housine, howcvor, due to tho vrar, was conplotolv stnnnod

and all tho builddnf and construction eíforts wore usod to produS *

mr vrorkors homes in tho nost noedcd small and lareo industrial arcas. Puerto Rico, ivith no industrial arcas to spoak of, for production of vrar mtorials, was conplctcly by-passod and housing in general, with Podoral assistancc cone to a complete stand stiH,

Had it not been for tho more than genorous assistancc recoivod fron Insular Legislaturo appropnations. Puerto Rico Housinr Author

itios, whilo approoiativc for tho Pedoral assistance reoeivod, could

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not boast too nuch over an avorage production cf 576 accormnodationB per year, for all four Authoritios»

All in all, O •16,950,000,00 have boen appropriatcd by the Insular Legislaturc fron lüay 1944 to líay 1947, to fu2d:hor the progress mado by the Local Authoritioa, Those appropriations havo kopt Publio Ilousing in Puerto ?dco on its foet and in the PUblic oye, VTith th© oxcoption of a favr Statos in the Unitod States, líoir York, I'&.ssachusotts, and seno othcrs, ITONE havo rcceivcd proportionally as nuóh assistanco locally as the Puerto lUco Authoritios havo obtainod, i\nothor vrord of thanks to those ydio ho.vo so gonorously supported tJ-i©

program for Public Housing in Puerto Paco, Tlio nonoys appropriatod to the cause of Public Ilousing xToro recoivod as .follovrs :

ACT NO. 108, ¿fciy 15, 1944,

5,200,000,00,

0.2,200,000,00 to Pi'4Ll ) O 1,000,000.00 to San Juan Housing Authority) Por ñoquisition of sitos and pr'oparation of plano and specification for low-rcnt housing,

ACT NO, 154, Ilay 9, 1945. O«l,00ü,0ü0,00 to PIIU, for tho dóvelopnont üf lo;7-rent housing projocts»

ACT NO, 264, l'ixy 14, 1945. 0,1,000,000,00 for sluia clcarancc only, no part of those funds to bo uscd for redovoloprncnt,

ACT NO. 265, Ifay 14, 1945, 0.3,750,000,00, of tiiich: " " "

800,000,00 to San Juan Authorityj 600,000,00 to Penco Authority; 350,000,00 to Ifeiyaguoz Authority; '150,000,00 tó" Arocibo Authority; and

1,850,000.00 to IPíIU, of ivhich 0. 150,000,00 to bo spont in Arocibo, All those suT-is íbr construction of Icav-ront

housing,

ACT NO, 18, July 51, 1946, y. 1,750,000,00, of -whicht

5, " "

575,000.00 to San Juan Authority; 150,000.00 to Ponco Authority 150,000.00 to Ihyaguoz Authority; and

875,000,00 to PPvH/i, O» 150,000,00 of T/hich to bo' spcnt in Arocibo, IlonGys to bo usod for lo\7—rent housing construction,

ACT NO, 410, I^y 13# 1947. v« 6,250,000,00, to PHIA for thé construction of lo\T-ront housing,

cxoopt for í, 50,000,00

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which shall be usod for iiiprovciDcnts to Barrios Obroros»

In addition to all thoso appropriations by tho Logislatiire of Puerto Rico, PRIIA. rocoived on additional amount of -)• 20C,COO,00 from'Víar Ej^ergency Fuiids to d^fray labor oost of the Cataño developrient» 'Tho Emorgoncy Coinmittee supplomonted our funds iTith anothor V» 600,000^00, for tho ..construction of soveral hundrod novr houscs in lares and Aguádilla, both of which cities v/oro c onsidorably domagcd by firos» VJhilo a largo núríbor of ne\r hondos and othor accoinmodations havo alreac^ boon and aro boing providod, it should be bomo in mind that prosont day construction costs are much highor than thoso provailing in tho early fortios» Present day construction costs hav© boon found to bo from 150 to 200 percont hi£^cr than thoso paid in tho boginning of the program, Ihe Puerto Rico Housing Authority, realizing that such costs v/ould cut thcir program in moro than half óf what thoy could havo

accomplishod, if pricos vrero not incroasod, has constructcd sovoral experimental houses and still is building sovoral othors, to find cut v/hcre any savingc can bo mado, without domaging tho livcability of tho hornos,

This subjoct vrill bo discussod moro fully in seno of tho fol** lov.'-ing paragraphs, PROGISSS LmDE BY ALL Tim AimiORITIES l.^TH INSULí^R PUNDS APPROPRUIED AIÍS AS FOLLaiS: Poneo I

■ Funds ncGdod for tho construction of tho'280 dwollings for

P,R,-l-2, now imdor oroction aro $. 1,183,389,70« Xnasmuch as only O 568,089,70 v;"crc availablo from Fodoral assistanco, as part of thcir Loan-Contract, 0615,300,00 will bo roquírod from Insular Funds to comploto this project, In addition, thoy .aro considoring the preparation of plans añd

spocifications for tho construction óf anothor 380 dívolling únits,

with an ostimatod cost of O* 934,000,00, of v/hioh O» 150,000,00 is alroady availablo, and in their bank, San Juan t

Casorio San Juan Bautista

114

Extonsi6n Casorio Las Casas

456 ±

" ^

Perimnont dwollings.

144 ± ±

Undor construction,

* * Ponding, vraiting for assignnont of funds.

Illl l 1ll

Ivlayac^oz,

Plans ond spccifications aro beinf; proparod by tho PjHA, for tho construction of 164 pcrnimiont divollin^s. Puerto Ideo Housinc Authority»

Dovolopnonts construotod ond occupiods LCCATION:

Laros

San Loronzo»

KIND OF DSVELOrl'ENTS,

íKÍI'ffiEU OF UITITS.

Ibrmnont dwellings.

192 100

Land and Utilitios»

rormnont d\Tollinrs.

± Tl^oso 14 now henos, now undor construction, aro part of a movonont to cloar a bad slura sootlon néar tho pomanout 100 unit

dovolopnont» A nininun typoliouso, connoctod to tho sanitary ^ facilitlos, alroady in placo, are construotod frón Torra Cotta . Clay tilo, Facilltios próvidod are living spacc, ono bod room, and ono or tv7o buiik roons, dopondinc on tho sizo of tho fariily to

be roplacod, Estimtod costs por houso v>rill be about 0 ♦1,20C»00, LCCATIONs

NUI/íBEA OF UNITS.

KIND OF DEIELOIIENTS. rormnont divcllings ,

Acuadilla,

176

San Gonridn,

lüO

*»

Coano,

112

Salinas,

104

Caycy,

104

Pomancnt dv7ellin{^s

Ilumcao,

125

Land and Utilitios»

32 28

VioquGs,

75 ±

Land and Utilitios, Pornanont dwrcllincs, Land and Utilitios ,

Soni-pormnont dvvo 11 in{;;s »

± Tho smll projoct in Vioquos vms built to accoiranodato a group of familios who had to bo roplacod fron thoir locatións,

Xhoy vrcre

living on proportics takon ovor by tho U» S» In addition to tho onos alroady corapletod, tho followinc is a sunmry of projocts undor construction; LCCATION:

NU7.fflKIi ÜF UIJITS.

KIND OF DEVELOPIENT.

144 (Yo-Yo lype)

Permanont dv/ollincs»

626

Land and Utilitios

San Josó,

491

Improvod lots for privato doTolopmonts•

San Jos6,

224

i-ormnont (t7Gllin£;s»

San Jos<5,

300

Arocibo»

Amelia Farm (Guaynabo)

Improvod'lots and latrincs.

â&#x2013; 1^

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Baycmán (Posquorc^) Eloanor RoosovoH^;>

Aroclbo í ■

347 329

Land nnd U-fcÍlÍtÍos Inpi-ovod lots for privato dcve1opriont•

Pormnont diTOllings.

TTp to this^dato, thorefore, the Puerto Rico Housing Author-" Itios conploted, or havo undor oonstruction 4,541 accoirmodations, dividod in tho follcaving catogoriosi Pcrinanont

Lo.nd and

Improved lots

Inprovod lots

Soni«-

dv;ellings

Utilities

and latrinos

for prlvato

Pormonont

dovülopiaents

2,178

1,168

300

820

75"

ITith funds still available it is ostinated, that approximate-

ly 1,423 additionsl living units can bo constructod, of"Tvhich 952 of a porinanont naturo, 362 of tho Land and Utility typo and 9 additional lots for privato dovolopinont,

Taking thoso also into account w© find thon, that tho four Authoritiüs vfill havo providodj 3,130 1,530 300 829

pcrinonont dvTClling imits, land and utilities inprovod lots with latrinos and public fountains,

ir.iprovcd lots for privato dovGlopnonts, and 75 soni-pcrnancnt hemos (Vioquos projcct) or an ovorall ■

total of

5,864 living accomodations, all vrith Insular appropriations, Thoso accomplishnonts should bo supplor^ntcd T/ith somo inforr«ition rogarding purohasos of land ánd farns by sovoral of tho Authoritios for futuro dovoloprnonts,'if and r/hoii Fodoral fundé or

Insular f\inds again bocono available, liayagucz, for instance, has

procecdings on its \ray for tho purchaso of a 60 acres fam, Ponco, too, is thinking of purchaaing sono proportios for futuro dovelopnonts, San Juan has alroady purchaso a vory largo fam in Isla Vordo, and tho PRIiA has punchased nar^ othor farins and sites, varying in acrcago and in various locations, Tho PRHA also hopos to bo ablc to providü tho first shopping centcr in its San Josd dcvolopnont víith tho funds at hand»

It.is anticipated that v/'ithin ono

yoar fren today, approxiiTiatoly 1,500 to 1,600 fariilios will havo moved into tho various acoommodations to bo nado availablo© It v/ill bo nücossary, thoroforo, that somo shopping facilitios be

mado avallablc to thon for the purchaso of thoir daily neods, In summrizing tho performances obtainod by tho Puerto Rico Honsing Authoritios, v/ith Podoral and Insular assistanco it wiH bo found that a total of 11,632 familios wiH soon havu moved

from thoir horriblo slum and unsanitary locatl.ins to vory much improvod surroundings^ Thoir novir locatiens, v;oll plaimod vrith

•8-

stroGtfí, playí^roimds, sanitary facilitics, shops and stores v^horo r.eccssary, aro nodols for hoalthful llving, sonothing roally T orth v/hile to bring,childron up in, l^ile a considerable ainount

oT nonoy is involvod, it is roally vcry sínídl in conparison to

thG Eufforings ojid mdioaltliful conditions undor v/hich thcy v/ore

living, aiid so líiany hundrods of thousands today are still cxisting. Á progran for tho bcttom-nt and iir.provei^nts of thc livos of

thoso,- upou v/hoEG shouldcrs rcst tho rosponsibillty of providing tho largo labor forco noodod to koop any" country or stato in a hoalthful position. as far as econoriy and production aro concemod,

cannot be oxpcctod to produce thoso rosponsibilitios if thoy havo to livü undor circunstancos undor víhich mony animls could not oven exist,

EXPSPJT.ENTAL IIOUSÜS

Tho l^erto Rico Housing Authority has, and still is oxpcrinent-

ing v:ith tho construction of honog¿. Somo of thon aro of thc profabricatod type, vdiilc othors aro producod in tho convcntional Jnannor. It is too oarly tu givo a dofinito statcncnt as to tho

succoss of thc various oxporinonts, but i.hat is knorai froin thori as

far as construction oosts aro conccrnod, no groat advantagos havc bocn noticod#

A fow aluninun henos havc boon purchasod and crcctcd on a

sito ncar Cataño. Tlio groat disadvantago of this kind of hómcs

Is, that only tho v^alls and roof construction aro purchasod, in othor words "tho sholl", All othcr n-ork as fomidations, floors, installation of oloctric and plurabing facilitios, and oroction of

"thc sholl" aro addod costs, difficult to cstinato whcn purchaso' oí" "the sholl" is nado, Furthernoro, largo froight and transportation costs aro anofchor addod expenso, %^hich actually do not inprovG tho building at all,

A furthor cxporinont is bcing nado Tñth'a 'nioldcon" product, Theso hornos havc stool framo woldod togcthor, Pro-fabricatod 2

inch concroto ¡■■añols aro placed bGtv70cn tho stocl franing and fastoncd to sano,

Inasinuch as thoso buildings aro 11017 undor cons*"

truction furthor dotailod infornation as to costs and livoability c^ro not yot availablOv)

Still onothor cxporinont is boing nado" iii tho c onstructlcn of

a so-callod 'S7in£!nill" typo houso and a "yo-Yo" tyrjo houscc. Tho min thing in connon that both dosigns havo, is that thcy aro constructod around a coro, which coro contains four conplotc utility

units, i7ith shav7or, v/ator closot and a faucct,

Tho 'ÍTiridnill" typo

spread itsolf in tho four diroctions of thc \7indr, v/hilo tho "Yo-Yo"

typo aro put togcthor to savo on extra \7all, Each of tho tyiios v/ill acconnodato four fanilios, and dúo to tho fact that tho utility units aro placod at tho intorsoction of four difforont buildin^' lots

givos thc individual houso n grcat doal of land in front^of tho

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house, This condition, in our a good opportunity to till the nade a real nice garden out oí" for the construction of 144- of

estimtion v;ill givo the tenant available soil, or if so desired, this ground# Cost figures _receivod those housos run about §*1,500»00

por dvzelling uiiit^

Attachod photographs of the house plan of both of those typos, and a porspoctive vxov/ of same, con be found in the xllustrations, MODEL HOUSING x

Wxthin the organizatión of the Puorto Rico Housing Authority, but functioning scparatoly^ is the IModel Housing Board» This Board is composod of throo noríbors, appointcd by the Gcvornor of Puerto Rico, añd v;ho sorvo without conpensation fpr a torm of

fivG (5) years* This Model Housing Board v/as creatód pursuant to terms of Act^'No» 108 of the United Statos Congrcss, aporoved Iforch 2, 1934»

It is the duty of the Model Housing Board to dosign ond constrúct housos of soYoral typos v.hich shall bo nodols of sani*

tatxon, hcalth, convonionco and comfort» The Board, in accordanco with the provisxons of this Act, connot build more ihan'oight (S) nodcl housos in any senatorial distriot in ony onc yoar» All ho\iso3 built aro sold at such prxccs and undor such torms and conditions as it may dotomino»

Tho fionds dorivcd fron the

salo of such housos aro placed in tho Insular Treasury to tho account of tho I^Jodol Housing Fund ostablished by tho Act, for ivhich purposo tho sum of s?30#000»00 is soparatod annually out of rovonuo of intoxicating liquors,

Up to the prcscnt timo modpl housos havo boon constrúctod

and sold In tho senatorial districts of San Juan, Arocibo, Utuado, and Mayaguoz, lUicthor oight (S) such housos aro búilt in Ponco, and nogotlations aro going on for tho salo of sano»

In the

distriot of Humacao vto aro constructing ei^^t (8) experimental buildings, T/hilc plañe aro in proparation for construction of modol hornos in Coano, Caguae, San Gormdn, Aibonito, and jihasco» COMMUITITY ACTIVITXES.

Ihe Tfork of Local Housing Aúthoritios la not linited to nanaging and maintaining tho dovolopmonts» Once tho housog aro occupied, th; Aúthoritios spcnd oonsidorablo tirm^ and monoy and offort in raising tho familics" standard of living so that thoy v/lll »dapt thomsolves to tho now and bottor onvironments» This phaso of the Aúthoritios' vrork is classifiod as Coranunity Aotivitios»

This vrork is of an oduoational nature, and its main purposo is to raise tho tcnants* standard of living» Spooial omphasis is given to hcalth» oducation and rocroation# It inducios cstablxshing

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of nursory schools, vrork shops, cooperativo storOG, porioclicals clubs, librarlos, boy.and girl soout troops, rnillc ctatioiis Tor

cJiildí'Oli, lunoK 1*001.13, riGdico.! cllnics, v7olí*aro sorvxcos, abnicbic {;;ai.iGE, ütc«, plQygroiancis, athlctic fiolcls ond connunity contors aro providod for thoso activitios víhich sorvo as social and re-

croational contors, not only for fanilies living in tho housing projccts, but also for othors in tho imediate noighborhood, Slum cloarancG Is sIoit \Tork, ospocially vdicn fuinds aro Ixraitod

but tho Puorto Rico Housine: Authorxtios are \7orkin¿; not only toward roducxrig slun aroas, but tov/ard oducatxng tho pooplo occupyáxig hornos in thoir housing dovclopmonts in a novj-, hoalthicr and moro osthotic way of living#

In clúsing, a work of approclation should go to all tho Comnissionors of tho various Local Authoritios, who havo givon so much of thoir timo in tho furthoring of tho splcndid housing pro grama for low-incono fanilies, avhich startcd just ton'yoars ago. Their> untirxng offorts cannot be calculatod in raonoy, but tho loadorship thoy havo glvon in tho fulfilmcnt of thoir duties, xs to a groat oxtont rosponsiblo for tho success thc Local Housing Authoritios havo obtainod,

SUfvilvMY OF ACCOLÍMOnATIOHS AVAII^IBLE, AFTER ALL FUHDS NOW AT IIAHD ARE EXPENDED

Permnont dwollings

7,709

Serii-pormanont ctvollings

'207

Land and utilitios •

2,587

Improvod land, v^ith latrino and public fountains • , • Inprovod lots, for prívate dovolopmonts

GRAND TOTAL

300 829

11,632

Rio Piedras

256

176

199

Aguadllla

3-8

170

200

Isabela

Humacao

Bayamón

3-7

3-6

3-5

120

Caguas

3-3

152

193

210

Fajardo

164 A

476

600 A

ffenatí

Mayaguez

114

200 ir

¿,20 132

132

125

347

324

523

San Juan

210

152

280 k

116

Utilities

Dwellings

300

Land and

Semi-Permanent

Permanent

Ponce

Location

3-1 3-2

PRHA

2-3 2-<

2-1 2-2

1-7

1-3 1-^ 1-5

PR 1-1

Number

Project wlth

Improved lots

Iinprcved lots for prívate

3238_^J248 WITH FEDERAL AND INSULAR FUNDS AVAILABLE

256

375

170

325

436

272

193

210

964

1,682

1,581

modations.

. i

Total accom-

SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED OR TO BE PROVIDED BE PUERTO RICO HOUSING AUTHORITISS

,â&#x2013; n.

3-12 #

Cayey

3-15

952 k

1682

96a

Mayaguez

Arecibo

1581 Accommodations

Ponce

San Juan

2587

362 k

626

300

300 k

Water & latrine

uith

Iraproved lots

GBJiW TOTAL

PRHA

- BY INDIVIDUAL LOCAL AUTHORITISS -

207

k Under construction or in nreparation. k k By Arecibo Authority.

7709

Hato Rey (Eleanor Roosevelt) 75 Vieques

Río Piedras

22A ^

1A6

Guayam

3-U

Guasnmbo San Jos<l

lOA 160

Cataño

Coamo

100 112

lU IDA

San Germán

Lares San Lorenzo Salina s ;

Carolina

3-11

lAA íE 30 & 197 192

227

100

Utilities

Dwellings

Arecibo

Land and

Semi-Permanent

Permanent

lauco

Locatión

3-lOR

Number

Project

11632

Total Accom modations.

11632 Accommodations.

7375 Accommodations

829

329 k

9 k

A91 k

Improved lots for prívate developrnents

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PROPOSEO l'TE PLAN iunni

SAN JOSE

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D PIEDRAS. P. R. San José development. This de>ment will ultimately house 6,200 families, totalmg than 3 0.000 people. It provides for three larga ihorhood shopping centers, a town plaza, four e e ary schools, one Sénior and one Júnior High Schoo . ddition, approximately 40 acres are set aside for a community playground, supplemented by a secón ary Cround of more than 10 acres, and from 20 to ler :í playareas pxíijujcas within willllll the liic blocks.

*hborhood centers to contain stores, providing daily community building, elementary school, pólice an tation, filling station, and church. Each o ese s also have a playarea to be used by the unity building, Size of centers from 10 to acre.s. n Plaza to próvida location for stores an s ops,

OEVEuOPMENT

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movies, civic — and other public buildings, as time may require.

Total Area of Development 520 Acres.

S5.000.000. an Insular grant, is available for .construction purposes. It is estimated that another $15,000,000 will bo required to complete housing accommodations alone.

Average rent return to be $6.50 per month per accommodation.

Accommodations to be provided:

3700 Dwelling units. Permanent buildings in 2 and 3 story apai'tments. 1600 Land and Utility units.

900 Improved lots for prívate construction 6.200 Accommodations.

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TfPiCAL EUeVATlON

WiNDMtI-L HOUSE : i'- ■•-<>•

WlNDMILL TYPE HOUSE: The core of four utiliíy

nits. providing toilet, and shower facilities are placed at

le intersection of four building lots of 250 squaie meters ach. (2.691 sq. feet). W ith conslruction of Ihe living units ''ound this core, a large square footage of fiont yaid ; available to each individual unit. for planting of small J<)d crops. or flowers if so desired.

tructed for less than $2,000. complete, inciuding 2 seis of double army bunks.

At the head of each set of bunks, a VV' thick sheet of

niasonite or similar material acts as a dividing partition On level sites, these units are very adaptable and prov-' ide an abundance of cross ventilation, so necessary in our semi-tronical climate.

Experience has shown thal individual units can be cons-

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A perspectiva view of these units and an elevation, treated differentlyNote utility units section projecting above the main roofs.

KITCHEN

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TWO BUNK YO-YO HOUSé ..L

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"YO-YO" TYPE HOUSES: In principie, these units are limilar to the "Windmill Type" homes. Here again the :enter unit containing the utilities are also placed at the

saving is the íact of using a party wall. Several hundred

iitersection of four lots.

use of this material large savings will be made, because

While cross ventilation has been

of these units are now being constructed, using loadbearing Térra Cotta Clay Tiles, whith a scratch finish. With the

¡acrificed to alarge extend, the combined four living units

painting of this material is not required.

iré adoptable to a more rolling site, because these units

in texture and colors, against a natural setting of green

The variations

ían be placed on the site broaclside or shortside, facing

hills and plenty of colorfu] plants make for an ideal ap-

the Klreet, depending on the contours of the site. Another

pearance.

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Yo-Yo*' type House: Perspective sketch of four líving UDÍts.

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EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE - Río Piedras, P. RMaterials:

6" Load Bearing Terra Cotta Clay Tile Combed or Scratch Finiáh

Smooth Finished Inside, no Plaster Concrete Floor & Roof Constrnction Cost:

S3,200

Typical sluni dwellings in "K1 Fanguito", San Juan, P. R.

San Juan, P. R

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Vicw of a water homes project we wooJen stilts. "Buena Vista".

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Typical slum condition anywhere in Puerto Rico

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Typical Slum Houses Shacks like these, are called "Home"

by hundred of thousands people in

Puerto Rico. Note broken down walk across swampy areas. A complete story

in despair, misery, unhappiness, desperation.

and

This photography depicts the story far better than words could describe them. From areas like tbese our labor forces are comiDg, and future genorations are born and raised.

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MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHOIilTY OF THE CAPITAL OF PUERTO RICO "SAN JUAN BAUTISTA HOUSING PKOJECT"

Shown is first stage of construction, 114 dwelling units. Built inStop 24, Santurce, P. R. with Insular Funds. The completed nroject will consist of 384 dwelling units.

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MUNICIPAL HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CAPITAL OF PUERTO RICO '■ •LAS CASAS"

EXTENSION HOUSING PROJECa\

Blocks "A"and "B", 282 dwelling unit?, under construction; at extreme righfc

foundations of building for Block "C", 174 units. The construction of Block "D" will complete the project to 600 dwelling units. Built with Insular Funds at Calle Eduardo Conde, Santurce. In the background "Las Casas Project, 402 dweling units, built in 1941, with funds from F. P. H. A.

municipal housino authority of the capital of puerto rico VETERAN'ri TEMPORARY HOUSING PRÜJECT

132 dweiling iinits situated in Calle Loíza, Santiirce. The Federal Government furnished the material and

construction of the buildings; the Local Authority furoished the strcets and utilitíes.

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Bird's Eye VicW of Laúd and Utility Development. Exccpt for a few experi

mental houses, constructed by PRHA, (center foreground) tenants próvida their own houses. Note row of utility buildingg to the left.

Costly and unsanitary latrines, are another objectionable

TYPICAL SEMI-RURAL ONE FAMILY HOUSE; Used Ihroughoul the island in 10 different locations.

conditlon. Múltiple use of shower houses too. brings ad-

These houses are placed on lots varyin? i" sizes from Vi.

ditional complains. The latter condition has been partly overeóme by placing a shawer unit in the later construct-

of an acre to one acre, on which they may be able to provide

ed dí velop ments.

for food crops in their behalf. Running water is being pro-

The lack of sanitary sewerage facilities. due to the large

vided in the homes, but toilet and shower facilities areivt A latrine is provided for each house, and shower buildings

size of developments, (some of them well over 200 acres)

are used by more than one family.

are one reason why PRHA does not intend to further ex-

periments with this kind of devolpment. In general, these developments have been found to be not too succesful. Growth of families in excess of space in the

dweilings available brings many management difficulties.

In additmn to

this T'.ad up-keep.. costly management repairs. due to excessive development sizes, are also responsible for their decisión.

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San Lorenzo, P. R.

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Panoramic view of development. Here too, open living porch spaces are provided en tbe upper floors.

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An interesting view witli hilly bacKgrouQd and shade trees in front

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San Germán, P> R*

Typical two story apartmpnt building, accommodating tweive families, with playgrouod in foreground. Swingc and slides for the smaller kids, and ba?ket ball facilities for the older enes, are basic equipnieot provided in almost every development.

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San Germรกn, P. R-

Rear view of two story apartment dvvellings, showing stairways leading to the upper floor.

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P. R-

View of two story apartment buildings.

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Cataño, P. R. Front view of two story apartment dwellings. Tenants for second floor

apartments, enter from the rear of building by stairways. Note the use of "Dutch Doors" to

keep

small children inside, if so

desired.

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Aguadilla, P. R. General view of the Aguadilla Development "Jo?ĂŠ De Diego. Experiments are beingmade with opea

poicii effect living space for second floor apartments. (See two ptory building front, to right.) Also note garbage colleetion station in front. From tenauts point of view, open living spaces are unsuccessfub

Driving rains froin either front or rear compel fhem lo move furniture bacK and forth.

Salinas, P. R-

Wherever possible, trees are being saved to provide for shady places, very scarce in most developments.

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Salinas, P. R'

Group of two story Apartments each accommodating 8 families.

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Ponce, P. R.

Two story

Apartments

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Two story Apartments.

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Ponce, P. R.

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Land and Utility Development

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Owner occupied houses in Land and Utility development.

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View of Utility Unit

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Poncc, P. R.

Land and Utility development.