Clark Howell Homes, Community Center, 528 Lovejoy Street, Atlanta

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,61-ATLA,63A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Building GA-2309-A is the community center for Clark Howell Homes, which is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Clark Howell Homes is the first public housing project to be completed by the Atlanta Housing Authority, which was created in May of Clark Howell Homes is a representative example of pre-World War II housing projects constructed by local housing authorities nationwide with the assistance of the United States Housing Authority. Clark Howell Homes was designed by the prominent Atlanta firm of Hentz, Adler, and Schutze, and the community center reflects aspects of the classical style associated with the firm.

The project was named in honor of Clark Howell, one of several Atlanta businessmen who were instrumental in securing federal funds to alleviate slum housing conditions in Atlanta during the CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 2) PARTI. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1. Date of erection: Ground was broken for Clark Howell Homes in mid-June of followed by the demolition and clearance of slum dwellings at the site. The construction contract was awarded August 1, and construction began in August or September of The first units were ready for occupancy in early November of and the last units were completed early in Specific dates of construction for Building GA-2309-A are not known. 2. Architect: Principal architects were Hentz, Adler and Shutze of Atlanta.

Associate architects were J. Warren Armistead, A. Ten Eyck Brown, Ivey and Crook, and Francis P. Smith, of Atlanta. Landscape architect was Edith Henderson of Atlanta. 3. Original and subsequent owners: The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta constructed Clark Howell Homes and has owned the project throughout its history. 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: Mion Construction Company of Atlanta was awarded a general construction contract (including plumbing, heating, electrical work, and site improvement) of Robert G. Lose was the structural engineer, and Newcomb and Boyd were the mechanical engineers. Slum dwellings at the site were demolished and cleared under a separate contract prior to construction.

Total cost of the project was approximately Specific construction costs and suppliers for 13uilding GA-2309-A are not known. 13. Historical Context From to the nation's first federally funded public housing projects were constructed by the Housing Division of the Public Works Administration (PWA) in an effort to eradicate slum housing on a grand scale while also creating much-needed jobs and decent low-cost housing during the Depression. Beginning in the federal government scrambled to construct scores of public housing projects to meet defense housing needs created by the advent of World War II. The historical context of Clark Howell Homes is the phase of public housing development that occurred between the Depression-era experiments of the PWA and the war-time defense housing projects.

Clark Howell Homes is a representative example of the public housing projects constructed by local housing authorities nationwide with the assistance of the United States Housing Authority (USHA). Established by the U. S. Housing Act of (the Wagner-Steagall Bill), the USHA sponsored new units in 300 public housing projects between and The USHA program represented a continuation and refinement of the PWA's public housing program. The PWA program had been criticized because its fledgling projects, including Techwood and University Homes in Atlanta, featured construction costs and rental rates, which, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 3) even with government subsidies, were considered too costly to benefit slum dwellers as originally planned.

As provided for by the U.S. Housing Act, the USHA program responded to shortcomings in the PWA's approach and replaced the PWA's short-term, Depression-era program with a permanent framework for the nation's public housing system. The U.S. Housing Act increased budget allocations for housing project subsidies and also decentralized the federal housing program. Under the new program, the federal government would make loans and pay subsidies to local housing authorities that would, in tum, build and operate public housing projects designed to accommodate lower-income tenants.

In addition to providing a much larger budget allocation than the allocation for the PWA program, the act legislated a lower per-unit construction cost for projects built by local housing authorities than the per-unit construction costs associated with the PWA projects, with the result that per-unit rents could be lower and more affordable. By the time the U.S. Housing Act was passed in November of the city of Atlanta was poised to take advantage of the new program, since a local precedent for public housing development had been established by Atlanta's early involvement with the PWA's Housing Division in the construction of Techwood and University Homes.

The General Assembly of Georgia adopted legislation to allow Georgia cities to establish local housing authorities and, on May 18, the Atlanta City Council and Mayor Hartsfield created the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA). In the fall of AHA secured USHA loans totaling to finance a comprehensive program of slum clearance and public housing construction for the city of Atlanta. After careful consideration, AHA chose to place its first housing project, Clark Howell Homes, directly adjacent to Techwood Homes, so that the amenities and facilities of the two projects would work together to produce a common, positive environment for their residents while also creating a cost-efficient arrangement for project maintenance and management.

AHA adopted a resolution to name its first project in honor of the late Clark Howell, Sr. who had served as publisher of the Atlanta Constitution and played a key role in Atlanta's early involvement in public housing construction under the PWA. AHA purchased the first parcel ofland for Clark Howell Homes in March of and awarded the construction contract at the beginning of August. Construction began in the fall of and continued into To facilitate the application process for prospective tenants, application offices were established in the summer of at the Clark Howell site as well as at several Atlanta stores.

Promotional brochures were distributed to publicize the project, and AHA opened "demonstration apartments" for public inspection at the end of June of During the first week of November, Clark Howell's first families began moving in, and the last units of Clark Howell Homes were ready for occupancy early in Clark Howell Homes was only the first product of a large-scale program of public housing planning and construction undertaken by the AHA during its initial years of operation.

AHA forged ahead with aid from the USHA, completing John Hope Homes in and Capitol, John Eagan, Grady, and Herndon Homes in For the design of its early housing projects, AHA sought the expertise of some of Atlanta's most prominent architectural firms, including Hentz, Adler, and Schutze (for Clark Howell Homes) and Burge and Stevens (for John Hope Homes). CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 4) The community center building was designed and constructed as an integral component of the plan for Clark Howell Homes. While Oark Howell's residential buildings were executed in a less detailed architectural style than originally planned, the community center building featured distinctive architectural details that highlighted its important community function.

The building included a large meeting hall, four smaller club rooms, two pre-school play rooms, a craft room, a kitchen, an office, bathrooms and storage areas. AHA's goal in planning a community center for each of its early projects, including Clark Howell Homes, was to foster a neighborhood environment by providing a suitable space for community-oriented activities and meetings.

After its completion, the community center served residents of both Techwood and Clark Howell Homes, and a schedule of activities at the Techwood-Clark Howell Community Center became a regular feature of the Techwood News beginning in the early The building assumed an additional community role in when the Anne Wallace Branch Carnegie Library was moved from its original Luckie Street facility into the community center. The community center has continued to serve its original purpose as a focal point for community life at Techwood in Clark Howell Homes and has experienced few alterations to its appearance and floor plan over the years. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement 1.

Architectural character: While Clark Howell's residential buildings are plain and uniform in design, the community center building is more detailed architecturally and reflects aspects of the classical style associated with the firm of Hentz, Adler and Schutze. The building features a symmetrical, T-shaped plan, with an entry porch on the south elevation and a curved entry bay on the north elevation. Distinguishing features include brick lintels over windows, brick dentil cornices, two statuary niches with brick arches and quoins, blind brick recesses over the statuary niches, a relief carving centered over the north entry, and an elaborate door surround at the north entry.

The relief carving on the north facade is inscribed with the following quote, attributed to Clark Howell and dated "The pulpit, the home and the school are the rocks upon which our civilization is founded." The entry porch on the south elevation shelters two descriptive plaques: a marble plaque with carved lettering commemorating the original construction of Clark Howell Homes during and and a metal plaque with raised lettering commemorating the modernization of Techwood and Clark Howell Homes in B. Description of Exterior 1. Overall dimensions: The Community Center is a one story, T shaped building with building dimensions of x with a x wing which defines the T shape of the building. CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENIBR HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 5) 2.

Foundations: The foundation is constructed of a network of brick piers on concrete footings which support the wood frame joist flooring. This foundation system forms a low crawl space under the first floor of the building and is faced in brick. 3. Walls: The exterior walls are constructed of tile block with exterior brick facing. The north elevation includes two recessed niche brick details and a relief sculpture ( see description above). The south elevation features a limestone insert with the words: "Community Building Clark Howell Homes" inscribed. 4. Structural systems, framing: The roof is steel truss construction, floors are wood joist construction.

The roof is supported by a series of concrete pilasters spaced 16' on center in the main meeting hall and a series of wood posts spaced throughout the remainder of the building. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: The main entry is on the south elevation within a covered portico and features a half-circle transom with arch brick detailing. Points of egress are located on the east elevation of the main building and on the east and west elevations of the north wing. Original doors were wood. b. Windows: Windows are double-hung with divided light panes and metal sills. Brick detailing includes a soldier course at the top of each window. 6. Roof: The Community Center has a hipped roof system constructed of a steel truss frame supporting wood joists and tile roof sheathing.

For ventilation there are a series of metal dormer vents placed evenly on the roof. C. Description of Interior 1. Floor Plans: Architectural drawings prepared by the firm of Hentz, Adler & Shutze show that the first floor plan included a kitchen, play and club rooms, restrooms, a large meeting room, offices and storage rooms. The play and club rooms featured folding door partitions by which the rooms could be subdivided. 2. Stairways: There are several stairways on the exterior of the building which provide egress from the building's exits. 3. Flooring: The floor is a wood joist structure with several finish materials including asphalt tile in the restrooms, linoleum in the kitchen and wood throughout the remainder of the building. CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No.

GA-2309-A (Page 6) 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Interior walls and ceiling are finished in plaster with cement plaster used for wainscot in several rooms. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: All doors are constructed of wood. b. Windows: All windows are double-hung wood construction. 6. Decorative features and trim: Interior decorative features and trim are minimal. 7. Mechanical Equipment: a. Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: Specific information not available. b. Plumbing: The extent of changes to the plumbing system of this building are unknown. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: The T shaped building backs onto the central open park space of Clark Howell Homes.

The main entry is on the south elevation and connects to a system of concrete paths that connect to adjacent residential buildings and the central open park. 2. Historic landscape design: Historic landscape plans show the Community Center sitting on the east side of the housing project, connected to the concrete path system of the central park. The specific landscape plans of the building are not available, however, there are two large water oak trees on either side of the main entrance that are probably original to construction. PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Historic views: Reproductions of historic views of Clark Howell Homes accompany this submittal to the Historic American Buildings Survey. Original historic photographs are archived at the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA).

Photographs appear in many of the AHA annual reports and historic newspaper articles listed in the bibliography at Section C. B. Interviews: The Atlanta History Center has transcripts of interviews with Atlanta citizens (Manuscript Collection conducted from to by Clifford Kuhn and later excerpted and compiled into a book, Living Atlanta: An Oral History of the City, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No.

GA-2309-A (Page 7) For first-hand accounts of project construction and subsequent living conditions at Techwood Homes and Clark Howell Homes, interview transcripts were reviewed for two individuals: landscape architect Edith Henderson, who designed the landscape plan for Clark Howell Homes and Techwood Homes; and Waldo Roescher, Techwood Homes resident from to Specific citations for transcripts are provided in the bibliography at Section C. C.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,61-ATLA,63A-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

The Atlanta Housing Authority has an extensive collection of newspaper clippings, annual reports, and pamphlets pertaining to the AHA and its properties. Many of the articles and other documents identified in this bibliography were obtained from the AHA. Other information was obtained from the Atlanta History Center, the files of the State Historic Preservation Office, the archives of the Coca-Cola Company, and the Development Office of the Atlanta Union Mission. 1. Primary and unpublished sources: Albert Kahn & Schervish Vogel Collaborative, Detroit, Michigan. "Techwood Clark Howell Urban Revitalization Demonstration Program: Section 106 Report (Revision Prepared for the U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, and the Integral Partnership of Atlanta, May 2. Secondary and published sources: Abrams, Charles. The Future of Housing. New York: Harper & Brothers, "As Public Housing Enters American City 56 (January 65. Atlanta Housing Authority. Atlanta Rebuilding: Bulletin of the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta 1 (April ___ . First Annual Report: Rebuilding Atlanta. Atlanta: Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, ___ . Second Annual Report: Rebuilding Atlanta. Atlanta: Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, ___ . Third Annual Report: Homes, Health and Happiness. Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, ___ . Fourth Annual Report: Democracy in Action.

Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, Ninth Annual Report: Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, Tenth Report of Operations: Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 8) - - -.Atlanta, Sixteenth Annual Report: Atlanta: Housing Authority of the City of . - - - . Twenty-Fourth Annual Report: Atlanta: Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Annual Report. Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, Annual Report: Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, Goal: A Better City I Atlanta's Low-Rent Housing and Urban Renewal Program. Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, ___ . Urban Renewal: Atlanta's Program for Progress. Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, (c.

"Atlanta Housing Project Gets Underway." Atlanta Constitution, 6 September "Atlanta Opens First of Six USHA Projects." Public Housing: Federal Works Agency IV. S. Housing Authority 2 (6 August Birch, Eugenie Ladner. "Woman-Made America: The Case of Early Public Housing Policy." Journal of the American Institute of Planners 44 (April "Clark Howell Homes Modern, Fireproof, and Convenient." Atlanta Constitution, 1 December "Clark Howell Homes To Be Occupied by First of September." Atlanta Constitution, 14 July "Clark Howell Homes To Open for Public Inspection Sunday." Atlanta Constitution, 27 June "Clark Howell Homes on View." Atlanta Constitution, 30 June "Clark Howell Open House." Techwood News, 6 July "Clark Howell Open House." Techwood News, 7 August Corley, Florence Fleming.

"Atlanta's Techwood and University Homes Projects: The Nation's Laboratory for Public Housing." Atlanta History 31 (Winter 17- 36. CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COlVtMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 9) Dowling, Elizabeth Meredith. American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., "Dream Vs. Reality? Techwood Turns Atlanta (November "Dreams Do Come True: A Real Life Story About Three Atlantans." Atlanta Journal, 7 November "Federal Aid to Bring New Homes for Old." Atlanta Constitution, 18 June "First Land Is Bought for Howell Homes." Atlanta Constitution, 23 March "First Projects of the USHA Are Opened in Four Cities." Newsweek 14 (17 July 42- 43.

Atlanta Program of Slum Clearance Starts With Selection of Site." Atlanta Journal, 12 February "Gay Colors Adorn Housing Project." Atlanta Journal, 5 August "The Great Experiment Falters: Two Faces of Techwood Homes." Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 27 October "Ground Broken for New Project." Atlanta Constitution, 18 June Henderson, Edith. Interview by Clifford M. Kuhn, Atlanta, October Transcript available from the Atlanta History Center, Manuscript Collection Box Folder #8. "Housing Project Opens to Public." Atlanta Constitution, 29 June Kuhn, Clifford M.; Joye, Harton E.; and West, E. Bernard. Living Atlanta: An Oral History of the City, Athens: University of Georgia Press, Lord, Tom Forrester. Decent Housing: A Promise to Keep.

Cambridge, Massachusetts: Schenkman Publishing Company, Inc., Mitchell, J. Paul, ed. Federal Housing Policy and Programs: Past and Present. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University, Center for Urban Policy Research, "New 3-Million Housing Unit Near Techwood." Sunday American, 12 February Palmer, Charles F. Adventures of a Slum Fighter. Atlanta: Tupper and Love, Inc., "Public Housing in the Southeastern States." Architectural Forum 74 (March CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 10) "Public Housing and the USHA." Architectural Forum 72 (January Public Works Administration. America Builds: The Record of PWA. Washington, United States Government Printing Office, Roescher, Waldo. Interview by Clifford M.

Kuhn, Atlanta, January Transcript available from the Atlanta History Center, Manuscript Collection Box Folder #8. Sanborn Map Company. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for Atlanta, Georgia. Volume 1, Sheets 29, 37, 40, 48, 49, 50, 58, 59, and 60: Volume 1, Sheets 51, 55, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, and 62: (revised Volume 4A, Sheets 453A, 454A, and 461A: Available as hard copies, with revisions, at the Atlanta History Center. Units First of Slum Clearance." Atlanta Constitution, 12 February Techwood and Clark Howell Homes Tenants' Association.

Techwood News (4 November "Techwood Homes: Symbol of Despair, Hope." Atlanta Journal, 24 May "Techwood Project Comes Full Cycle: From Slum to Slum." Atlanta Journal, 19 September Housing Project for Atlanta is Approved." Atlanta Constitution, 12 February Towards Equal Opportunity in Housing in Atlanta, Georgia: A Report of the Georgia State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. By Dr. Vivian W. Henderson, Chairman. Atlanta: May "Two Million Contract Let For Housing." Atlanta Constitution, 1 August "Uncle Sam Uses Atlanta as His Housing Laboratory." Atlanta Constitution, 28 August "U. S. Gets First Permanent Housing Authority." Architectural Record 82 (October 38.

"USHA Breaks First Ground in Slum War." Newsweek 12 (1 August "Where Hundreds of Families Will Be Happily Housed." Atlanta Constitution, 14 July "Who Wants Techwood?" Atlanta Weekly [Atlanta Journal and Constitution], 15 March CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 11) D. Supplemental material: Following this narrative format text are two x 11" sketch drawings, as follows: historic site plan of Techwood/Clark Howell Homes with the Community Center indicated. site plan of existing conditions of Techwood/Clark Howell Homes with the Community Center indicated. PART IV.

PROJECT INFORMATION This HABS documentation packet is being prepared in compliance with a stipulation of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that addresses the impact of the Techwood/Clark Howell Homes HOPE VI Urban Revitalization Demonstration (URD) Project on the Techwood Homes Historic District, the Clark Howell Homes Historic District, the Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District, and the Anne Wallace Branch Carnegie Library. The MOA is dated March 19, Parties to the MOA are: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, and the Techwood/Clark Howell Resident Association. Prepared by: Kit Sutherland, President KitWrites, Inc.

EDAW, Inc. Lenox Road NE Suite 100 Atlanta, Georgia Date: October 10, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 12) HISTORIC SITE PLAN, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER HABS No. GA-2309-A (Page 13) SITE PLAN, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, COMMUNITY CENTER