THE PUBLIC HOUSING DEBATE CONTENTS: Introduction Does Texas need public housing? Problems facing public housing The past: Beginnings of public housing Public Works Administration builds public housing Housing Act of 1937 Public housing in Texas Special interest, race and local control Solutions to fix public housing Postscript: Allen Parkway Village today For more information TxLIHIS' work in public housing copyright 1998 Texas Low Income Housing Information Service

The past: special interests, race and local control Public housing: a monument to segregation The West Dallas public housing developments contained 3,500 units of apartments in two story buildings. (photo: TxLIHIS) The public housing developed in West Dallas contained 3,500 units on 600 acres. Across the street was a lead smelter, whose emissions spread lead across the entire development. The West Dallas project was the largest public housing development in the nation at the time it was built. That project is now under court order to be partially demolished. The federal judge ruling on the case described it as "a gigantic monument to segregation and neglect." A lead smelter a few blocks from the West Dallas Housing Development polluted the site with lead emission for decades. (photo: TxLIHIS) At the time it was constructed in the 1950's the West Dallas Public housing development was the largest in the nation. (photo: National Archives) The West Dallas public housing developments today. (photo: TxLIHIS) Demolition of integrated public housing