COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT In fiscal·year 1969, building activities continued on the upswing with an increase of 20 percent over the previous year. A total of 1,900 building and miscellaneous permits was issued by the Department of Public Works for an estimated value on residential and commercial construction of $15.5 million. Of the permits issued, 1,530 were for new residential dwellings. Despite the increase in the building boom, there remains acute housing shortage in the territory. With the continuing annual population increase, boosted in part by newcomers establishing permanent or temporary residency, the problem is likely to remain acute for the next few years. It is estimated that the territory needs approximately 4,000 more homes to satisfy the ever-growing housing requirement, including at least 1,400 to accommodate military families. The Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority in fiscal year 1969 began construction of a 250-unit lowrent housing project. These units will be used primarily to accommodate low-income families who are to be displaced by one of two urban renewal projects the authority is implementing. At an estimated cost of $5.1 million in Federal funds, the low-rent project consists of six sites, all located within a mile of the capital city of Agaria. The units include duplexes and fourplexes,-ranging in size from one bedroom to six bedrooms.
Construction began in February 1969 by the Central Mill Supply Co., a South Korean firm which submitted the lowest bid in competition with other • qualified local contractors. Lawrence Johnsrud and Associates of Guam is the architect for the project. Construction schedule calls for 18 months, with the completion of the entire project expected by June of 1970. At this writing, all six sites were cleared and being graded. At one site, where construction first started, the streets have been laid out, building foundations have been poured and hollow block walls were being laid. Federal funds allocated for the project thus far totaled $2,167,000. In conjunction with urban renewal, the development of the nontitle I subdivision adjacent to the Sinajana project area was authorized by the Ninth Guam Legislature and approved by the Governor. It calls for 18 acres of undeveloped land to be developed into 54 residential lots, averaging 6,500 square feet in size. Initially, the sum of $300,883 in Concurrences on acquisition prices for funds was earmarked by the Legislature for the project. Of the amount, $93,075 has been utilized for land purchase, and another $18,000 has been committed to pay for the plans and specifications contracted to Trasen and Associatesof Guam. Bids for site development were announced at the end of the fiscal year, and construction is expected to begin before the end of 1969. Meanwhile, work on the urban re19
