Clark Howell Homes, Building D-3, 454 Venable Street, Atlanta

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

Building D-3 is a typical residential building in 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 Shutze.

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, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 2) PART I. 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 D-3 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 Building D-3 are not known. B. 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 CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 3) 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, 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 turn, build and operate public housing projects designed to accommodate lower-income tenants.

In addition to providing a much larger budget allocation than the allQcation 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 of land 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, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 4) 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). PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural Character: Distinguishing features of the Clark Howell buildings include brick veneer facades with glazed header bocks, cantilevered concrete entrance canopies, wrought iron railings, and brick dentil cornices on buildings with hipped roofs.

The project's townhouse-style buildings feature a combination of hipped roofs and gabled roofs, contributing to an overall architectural character that is more traditional in appearance than the adjacent Techwood Homes project, which features flat-roofed buildings of a more streamlined, modern style. 2. Condition of Fabric: The Building appears to be in good structural condition but is in need of maintenance and cosmetic repairs. B. Description of Exterior: 1. Overall Dimensions: Building D-3 is a two story, rectangular building with overall dimensions of x 27' 2. Walls: The exterior walls are load-bearing masonry with exterior brick facing. 3.

Structural Systems, Framing: The roof is of wood truss construction, floors are concrete with a series of interior columns on the first floor for support. 4. Openings: a. Doorways and Doors: Doorways of residential units were originally painted in different, bright colors, with a matching color on the front and rear door of each unit, to create a sense of individual identity for each residence. The original doors have been replaced. The cantilevered concrete canopies over the doorways are original. CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 5) b. Windows: The original double-hung windows have been replaced. Four pane over four pane double-hung windows remain on the majority of the units. 5. Roof: The roofs of residential buildings originally featured S-shaped barrel tiles.

These tiles have been replaced with asphalt shingles. C. Description of Interior: 1. Floor Plans: According to the historic floor plans whiGh were drawn by the architectural firm of Hentz, Adler & Shutze and field documentation, the first floor plans of the four townhouse units consisted of kitchen/dining areas and living rooms while the second floor plans contained bedrooms and baths. The first and second floor plans of the two flats at each end and two flats adjacent to each end of the building consisted of kitchen/dining areas, living rooms, bedrooms and baths. All of the units included several utility closets and linen closets scattered throughout the layout. 2. Stairways: The stairways are located off of the living rooms of the units with closets located underneath the stairs.

The stairs are located on adjoining walls with the exception of the two end units whose entries and stairwells were rotated to the end of the building. 3. Flooring: The floors are of poured slab concrete covered with linoleum. 4. Wall and Ceiling Finish: The walls are constructed of painted concrete with the ceiling constructed of concrete covered in plaster for a decorative finish. 5. Openings: a. Doorways and Doors: Specific information not available. b. Windows: Refer to Section Description of Exterior. 6. Decorative Features and Trim: Interior decorative features and trim are minimal. 7. Hardware: Metal stair railings are present in the stairways and ironwork decorates the entryway into the unit. 8. Mechanical Equipment: CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 6) a.

Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation: The original heating system was steam-powered and several radiators remain within the units .. However, an extensive modernization was undertaken on Clark Howell Homes between and and the extent to which these radiators are used is unknown. b. Lighting: The units have some of the original lighting fixtures still remaining, and were located in all the main living areas and hallways. c. Plumbing: The building's plumbing has been extensively renovated since the original opening date. Exact alterations to Building D-3 are unknown, but would have taken place during the modernization in the years to d. Other (Elevators, etc.): The building has no elevators or other special equipment. 9.

Original Furnishings: Details about the original furnishings within Building D-3 are unknown. D. Site: 1. General Setting and Orientation: The rectangular shaped building forms a continuous linear courtyard with the other three buildings located within this block and is oriented toward Venable Street. Sidewalks are located through the block connecting the apartment entrances to the street and the buildings to each other. 2. Historic Landscape Design: Historic landscape plans are not available, although a dogwood tree and a sugar maple tree are located along Venable Street and Hunnicutt Street which considering their size were probably not part of the original 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 CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 7) Citv.

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,63G-. 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

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

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 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, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 8) Ninth Annual Report: Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, Tenth Report of Operations: Atlanta: Atlanta Housing Authority, -- Sixteenth Annual Report: Atlanta: Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, -- 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/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/U.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 Modem, 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 HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 9) "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 Dowling, Elizabeth Meredith. American Classicist: The Architecture of Philip Trammell Shutze. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., "Dream Vs. Reality? Techwood Tums Atlanta (November 11 "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 Atlanta Program of Slum Clearance Starts With Selection of Site." Atlanta Journal, 12 February "Gay Colors Adorn Housing Project." Atlanta Journal, 5 August 11 "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, Harlon 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. CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 10) 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 "Public Housing and the USHA." Architectural Forum 72 (January Public Works Administration. America Builds: The Record of PW A. 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 63: (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 Constitution, 19 September Housing Project for Atlanta is Approved." Atlanta Constitution, 12 February CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 11) 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 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 Building indicated. site plan of existing conditions of Techwood/Clark Howell Homes with Building 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 CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 12) Howell Resident Association.

Prepared by: Kyle F. Epstein, A.I.A. Warren Epstein & Associates, Architects, Inc. Cheshire Bridge Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia In association with: Kit Sutherland, President . KitWrites, Inc. Stillwood Drive, NE Atlanta, Georgia Date: July 1, . CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 13) HISTORIC SITE PLAN, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 HABS No. GA-2309-G (Page 14) SITE PLAN, CLARK HOWELL HOMES, BUILDING D-3 . '\ - ; .