Box 5, Folder 2, Document 39

Box 5, Folder 2, Document 39

WSB TELEVISION

WHITE COLUMNS ON PEACHTREE CHANNEL 2, ATLANTA, GA, 30309







AN EDITORIAL OPINION........

January 3, 1969

VIEWPOINT - An official expression of the editorial opinion of
the management of WSB Television.

American Builder Magazines' Centennial issue asked
a hard question:

"Who really give a damn about housing?"
And answers:

"Not the cities - they're headed for a decade of
failure.

"Not the suburbs - they couldn't care less."
"Not the rural areas - everyone's leaving them."

"Not the power structure - all they do is talk, talk,
talk"

Then the magazine recognizes Atlanta as one of the few
oasis in a desert of apathy. Because Mayor Allen, Dan Sweat,
Cecil Alexander and Malcolm Jones have pushed us far ahead of
other cities.

But still not far enough. Even the Mayor's crash pro-
gram falls short of help in the area of the greatest need: units
that will rent or sell for $30 to $50 a month.

So what can be done?

Here is what WSB Television considers some key recommen-
dations:

The Federal Housing Act of 1968 allows the FHA to make
some loans for home ownerships at one per cent interest: But
there's not enough money for this project - or for many of the
other housing programs. Congress must see the crisis - and vote
the money. ,

Building codes must be updated to allow for new, more
economical assembly-line building techniques and materials.

Building trade unions must stop discriminating and
starthelping to train more workmen.

Private enterprise must be able to build truly low cost
housing at a profit. Senator Robert Kennedys suggestions for
tax benefits offer the best hope for that.

(more)

COX BROADCASTING CORPORATION stations: WSB AM-FM-TV, Atlanta @ WHIO AM-FM-TV, Dayton @ WSOC AM-FM-TV, Charlotte
WIOD AM-FM, Miami e KTVU, San Francisco-Oakland e WIIC-TV, Pittsburgh






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What private enterprise so far has not built in Atlanta,
must then be built as public housing. And some of this public

housing can be built in present slum pockets even in Northside
Atlanta.

One of the most difficult problems in Atlanta is to
find land at a reasonable price zoned for apartments.

WSB Television suggests the expressways. That's right -
the expressways! Not on the pavement during rush hour traffic.
But in the air space over the freeways!

Not only is it possible to build housing over the
expressways but it has been done in other cities. The land is
already owned by the government. And the government encourages
use of the valuable air space for such necessary urban projects
as housing.

Incidentally, for rapid transit, too.

Without the expressways, only 200 to 400 acres inside
Atlanta are zoned for apartments. With the air space over the free-
ways there would be a minimum of 2,700 acres of expressway right-
of-way within the city of Atlanta. Already there's plenty of
parking available every rush hour.

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