US Housing Authority (USHA) Sites

Pico Gardens was the ninth housing project in Los Angeles, CA completed under the city's New Deal–era public housing program. In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for $16 million, funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). Located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, Pico Gardens was completed in 1942.  Located on 14 acres of land, Pico Gardens comprised 37 frame-and-stucco buildings. Each of the 260 housing units had one to four bedrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen, private tile bath with...

In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for low-income families, including Pueblo del Rio in the Central Alameda neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. All 10 projects, which cost $16 million total, were funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). To make way for Pueblo del Rio, HACLA demolished 246 bungalow homes—207 of which were deemed "substandard"—in a primarily African-American neighborhood between June and December 1941. Construction began in November 1941; some families were already living in the development before its official...

Ramona Gardens was the first housing project in Los Angeles, CA completed under the city’s New Deal–era public housing program. In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for $16 million, funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). Located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood, Ramona Gardens was completed in 1941.  Having cleared 32 acres of the Beaudry Street “slums," a predominantly impoverished Mexican neighborhood, HACLA began construction of Ramona Gardens in March 1940 and made speedy progress. The first tenants were able to...

Rancho San Pedro was one of the developments in Los Angeles, CA completed under the city’s New Deal–era public housing program. In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for $16 million, funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). Located in the industrial district of San Pedro, Rancho San Pedro was completed in 1942. To make way for the 12.5-acre development, 80 residences (69 of which were deemed “substandard”) were demolished by July 1941. Construction of 33 concrete-and-frame structures comprising 285 dwelling...

The brick "restrained Colonial Revival style" (Van West, 2001, p. 148) two-story apartment complex contained 48 units for African-Americans. Constructed at the same time as the Robert E. Lee Homes for whites, both complexes were funded for a total of $607,000. The facility was demolished in 2008 in order to construct new housing.

Brick, two-story "restrained Colonial Revival style" (Van West, 2001, p. 148) housing for whites was completed at the same time as the Riverview Apartments for African-Americans. Both complexes were constructed for a total of $607,000. Robert E. Lee contained 128 units. The facility remains in use.

Rose Hill Courts was the smallest of the developments in Los Angeles, CA completed under the city’s New Deal–era public housing program. In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for $16 million, funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA). Located in the Montecito Heights neighborhood, Rose Hill Courts was completed in 1942. In September 1941, the City of Los Angeles demolished 79 homes, 71 of which were deemed “substandard,” to make way for Rose Hill Courts. Completed in December 1942, the...

On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided $500 million for subsidies to be paid from the U.S. government to local public housing agencies (LHAs) to improve living conditions for low-income families. The Austin City Council established the Austin Housing Authority on December 27, 1937. The housing authority made an application to the USHA for $500,000 to build 186 units of public housing at three sites. Austin’s housing agency became the first in the country to receive funding and to start construction on its USHA...

The first Mississippi county approved for rural housing loans from the United States Housing Authority was Lee County. Loans represented 90% of the construction and 10% was locally supplied for the $790,000 program. "America's first 'economy wall' unit of brick residences have been completed under direction of the rural housing authority on Highway 78, three miles east of Tupelo..." (Housing Work, 1941). D. D. Smith Lumber Company constructed the brick houses, which were the first of the farm houses under New Deal work to be built of brick. The project authorized 300 rural homes to be constructed. The first home...

On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided $500 million for subsidies to be paid from the U.S. government to local public housing agencies (LHAs) to improve living conditions for low-income families. The Austin City Council established the Austin Housing Authority on December 27, 1937. The housing authority made an application to the USHA for $500,000 to build 186 units of public housing at three sites. Austin’s housing agency became the first in the country to receive funding and to start construction on its USHA...

St. Bernard Projects were constructed 1940 as one of New Orleans' "Big Four" high-density urban public housing projects. Initially comprised of 744 units in 74 buildings constructed on 30.9 acres, the project was bordered by St. Bernard Avenue to Gibson Street and Senate Street to St. Denis Streets. Architects Herbert A. Benson, George Christy, and William Spink designed the buildings "to echo the brick townhouses of the Vieux Carre" (Historic American Buildings Survey, 1933). Similar to other public housing units in New Orleans, they reflected elements of the period including porches and balconies with metalwork and canopies. Unlike other units,...

St. Thomas was one of six public housing projects constructed under the Housing Act of 1937. It was constructed 1938-1941 and contained 920 units of two or three story brick buildings. The architect's rendering for the St. Thomas Street project was "planned to provide maximum light, space and air; buildings about a central court, with cool porches" (Slum Clearance, 1938, p. 68). The housing authority began demolition and redevelopment in the late 1990s, but five or the original buildings were saved "for historical purposes" (St. Thomas Development Neighborhood). The buildings are on the corner of Felicity and St. Thomas streets...

Triangle Homes for African American families was constructed 1940-1941 by W. J. McGee and Son for a base bid of $325,866. Two-story row houses are still in use in the triangle formed by South Maple Street and South 4th Avenue. A grant in 2018 funds replacement units and construction has been initiated on new facilities across the street from Triangle Homes. It is unknown when the row houses will be demolished.

San Antonio's Board of Commissioners created the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) on June 17, 1937. On September 1, 1937, President Roosevelt signed the United States Housing Act of 1937. This created the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and provided $500 million for subsidies to be paid from the U.S. government to local public housing agencies (LHAs) like SAHA to improve living conditions for low-income families. SAHA made applications to the USHA for funds and the USHA agreed to provide financing for five projects; Alazan Courts, Apache Courts, Lincoln Heights Courts, Wheatley Courts and Victoria Courts. San Antonio enforced segregation in...

Architects Raymond Marlier, Edward B. Lee, William Boyd, and Bernard Prack designed the 3 public housing units constructed 1938-1940 in the Hill District. The USHA loaned 90% of the cost of the 3 projects. Terrace Village No. 1 was the second project for Pittsburgh, housing 805 families with an estimated cost of $4,950,000. The proposed project required the removal of 800,000 cubic yards of dirt from a hill overlooking a gully. No. 1 was constructed on Ruch Hill, covering 40 acres. No. 2 was built of Goat and Gazzam Hills, covered 89 acres, housed 1,818 families and cost approximately $10,800,000....

Preliminary plans for White Acres for white tenants was planned for South McComb in January 1940. The proposed unit was project Miss. 3-2, comprising 15 residential buildings and one administration/service building, and housing 84 families. Construction was by J. K. Fraser with a cost of $203,400. Architects were Landry and Matthes. The project involved razing existing structures, and grading, landscaping, plumbing and electrical work for the new structures. The two-story brick units are still in use.

William Mead Homes was the eighth development in Los Angeles, CA completed under the city’s New Deal–era public housing program. In 1941-43, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) constructed 10 public housing developments for $16 million, funded 10% by city bonds and 90% by federal loans from the United States Housing Authority (USHA).  Located in Downtown Los Angeles, CA, William Mead Homes was completed in 1942. Originally the Ann Street Project, the development was a source of lengthy and heated dispute between the Los Angeles City Council and HACLA due to the high estimated cost of purchasing...

Described as “the largest hotel in the world,” Wilmington Hall and Wilmington Hall Annex were temporary war-housing facilities for shipyard war workers in the Wilmington-San Pedro area of Los Angeles. In 1942-43, the federal government constructed five temporary wartime defense housing projects operated by the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA) under the Lanham Act of 1940 for $13.5 million. With the United States Housing Authority (USHA) and military merging housing efforts into the Federal Public Housing Authority (FPHA) in early 1942, Wilmington Hall was partially started as a New Deal project. The 39-acre development was made up of 70 total...