The City would create a housing corporation to secure federal funds to build 500 houses for people of modereate means. Initially, 300 homes for Whites at the West Point Mill and in Wagener Terrace and 200 for Blacks were envisioned. One benefit was to prevent people from leaving the City to shore up the tax base. Benefits to residents would be a 20-year pay-off at 4% and conveniences not available in the suburbs. The City would not be on the hook for the federal money since it would be paid to the housing authority, and even then, 30% would be a gift with 70% to be repaid over 20 years by the occupants of the houses.[1]
The formation of the housing commission was deferred when it was believed the federal government might have required a corporation.[2]
The Black housing project moved forward before the White project.[3]
Charleston's wartime housing included several residential developments in and around Charleston, South Carolina.
In 1933, Charleston was an early proponent of using federal funds for housing and began making plans for a development at the west end of Grove St. in Wagener Terrace and another one at the West Point Rice Mill.[4] Those projects were tabled because of the opposition of real estate professionals and residents, and instead in 1934, the focus became a housing project on Meeting St. that would become Meeting Street Manor.[4] That first project was completed in 1937 after delays.[4] After the Robert Mills Manor, Ansonborough Homes, and [Gadsden Green Homes]] were completed, the need for housing seemed met until servicemen began arriving in mass numbers during World War II.[4] The Tom McMillan Homes and Ben Legare Homes were quickly begun in North Charleston.[4] Liberty Homes in North Charleston, the Daniel Jenkins Homes north of Charleston, and Kiawah Homes followed. The Ashley Homes and St. Andrew's Homes came next.[4] The original plan had been that the housing would be demolished when the war ended and demand abated, but the drop in demand did not occur.[4] Each of the war housing projects had the same rules for admission: The qualifying residents had to (1) be the head of a family which needed to live with the head of the household; (2) be civilians and not service members; (3) be employed by one of a list of local employers; (4) come from somewhere beyond a reasonable commute; (5) have arrived in the area after July 1, 1941; and (6) be living in makeshift conditions.[5]
The land for the projects had been acquired by condemnation and included Liberty Homes Extension, Daniel Jenkins Homes, Ashley Homes, and the Boulevard Dormitories.[6]
Ashley Homes edit
Ashley Homes was a housing complex located in the Wagener Terrace neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina.
Skinner and Ruddick was the low bidder for the Ashley Homes development and several others in 1942.[7] The development was to have 96 three-room units, 30 four-room units, and 20 five-room units.[7]
Occupation of the development started on May 20, 1943.[8] Workers at the Navy Base preferred government housing in North Charleston to be nearer the base, but all of the war housing was full in June 1943.[9]
The development was designed by Douglas Ellington.[5] Other projects part of the same push were the Victory Court (at Grove and King Sts.) and Boulevard Dormitories (King St. extension).[5] The development was designed as temporary housing meant to be removed from the leased Buist Tract which would be returned to its original condition after the war.[5] The buildings were built of cream-colored, hollow tile and included an administrative building and repair shop.[5]
On February 27, 1955, Ashley Homes was sold to salvage company from Milledgeville, Georgia and dismantled.[10] By June 1955, all but two of the buildings (which were retained only for storage) were dismantled with the materials sold locally; surplus materials would be shipped elsewhere.[11] Locals were offered their pick of unsold salvage materials before the remainder was shipped off.[12]
The local school board voted to spend $100,000 on 22 lots of the vacant development to hold as a hedge against future needs, subject to approval from state authorities.[13] The land was transferred to the City of Charleston in December 2011[14]; it has been used as Corrine Jones Playground since.[15]
Victory Court edit
The Victory Court closed in 1945 when demand for the housing dried up.[6] The Victory Court had been built on the Baker Tract, leased by the federal government and housed 72 male workers, mainly from the Navy Base.
Closing of projects edit
The Charleston Housing Authority decided not to extend its deal with the federal government to manage the war housing in 1947.[16] After September 30, 1947, the management would be taken over by the Federal Public Housing Authority.[16] The Charleston Housing Authority had overseen the construction and operation of all the housing.[16] The complexes were the George Legare Homes, John C. Calhoun Homes, (3) Liberty Homes with its extensions, (4) St. Andrew's Homes, (5) Kiawah Homes, (6) Victory Court apartments, (7) Ashley Homes, (8) Read Hill Homes, and (9) Daniel Jenkins Homes.[16] The Charleston Housing Authority decided to part ways with the federal government following a disagreement about a rise in the rents and the slowness of the disposition of the housing; the authority explained that it could not afford to maintain vacant housing which had been inferior by design.[16] The Victory Court and 400 of the units at Liberty Homes were demolished by September 1947 with the salvaged materials sent to Clemson University for use there.[16]
Five projects (St. Andrews Homes, Ashley Homes, Victory Court, John C. Calhoun Homes, and Liberty Homes) were used for veterans after the war.[17]
When the Korean War arrived, the federal government placed a freeze on the transfer of the World War II housing which had been planned to be sold off.[18] The stay included Liberty Homes (285 units), Calhoun Homes (350 units), Ashley Homes (150 units), Victory Court (64 units), St. Andrew's Homes (410 units), Daniel Jenkins Homes (420 units), and Kiawah Homes (60 units).[18]
In 1955, the freeze was lifted and plans were made to demolish some of the housing. The local school district wanted to acquire some of the land used for the Ashley Homes to erect a badly needed school for the northwest section of the city.[19] Residents of Victory Court and Ashley Homes were given until February 28, 1955 to vacate.[20]
The residents of St. Andrew's Homes considered buying the project as a cooperative.[21] St. Andrew's Homes was bought by T.M. Tillman for $1,020,100 in April 1955.[10]
Ashley Homes was south of Peachtree St., west of Hester St., Devereaux Ave., and Clemsom Ave. Demolition happened in April 1955.[22]
Victory Court and Ashley Homes were gone by 1955.
References edit
- ^ "500 Homes Would Be Erected Here Under City's Plan". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. October 11, 1933. p. 1.
- ^ "Council Holds Up Plan for Housing". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. October 25, 1933. p. 12.
- ^ "Bids for Two PWA Projects". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. October 17, 1935. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g Horres, Belvin (March 26, 1950). "U.S. Government Owns and Operates 2,500 Housing Units in Charleston". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. Azalea insert 13.
- ^ a b c d e "Do You Know Your Charleston?". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. June 28, 1943. p. 10.
- ^ a b "War Housing Dormitory for Men Is Closed Down in City". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. August 21, 1945. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Local Firm Low for Housing Job". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. December 22, 1944. p. 9.
- ^ "Tenants Occupy 3 New Housing Proects Here". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. June 2, 1943. p. 5.
- ^ "Housing Problem for War Works Appears Solved". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. June 12, 1943. p. 12.
- ^ a b "Tillman Bids $1,020,100 for St. Andrews Homes". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. April 12, 1955. p. 12A.
- ^ Wilkirson, Betty P.. (June 28, 1955). "Demolition of Ashley Homes to Be Completed in 30 Days". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. 12A.
- ^ "Come and Get It". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. August 31, 1955. p. 3A.
- ^ "School Board's Decision to Buy Tract May Not Be Closed Matter". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. December 13, 1955. p. 10A.
- ^ Charleston County Deed Book 223. p. 456.
- ^ Couregge, Diette (May 24, 2011). "School land swap approved - Deal is needed for Buist, James Simons projects". Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. p. B1.
- ^ a b c d e f "City Releases 9 War Housing Units to FPHA". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. September 3, 1947. p. 1A.
- ^ "Five Projects Furnish Housing for Veterans". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. March 9, 1946. p. 5.
- ^ a b "1,739 Housing Units Here 'Frozen'". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. August 25, 1950. p. 12A.
- ^ "Ashley Homes Slated to Be Razed, Site Sought for School". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. August 31, 1954. p. 10A.
- ^ "Tenants of Public Housing Must Vacate". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. August 30, 1954. p. 5.
- ^ "'Co-op' Is Sought to Buy Project". News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. January 18, 1955. p. 10A.
- ^ "Wreckers Raze Housing Porject". Evening Post. Charleston, South Carolina. April 8, 1955. p. 1B.
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