The Racial and Ethnic Landscape of Public Housing In Texas between World Wars: San Antonio and Austin

Dennis Medina

This paper attempts to analyze public policy with regard to public housing projects in two Texas cities during the 20th century
interwar years. I examine how projects were influenced by prevailing ideas about race, ethnicity and citizenship; and, in turn, how these
policies affected our experience and understanding of those same concepts. Public policies changed racial and ethnic “landscapes” by
altering the physical locations and boundaries of urban neighborhoods, as well as by promulgating ideals, often culturally-based, of
cleanliness, health, proper development, family structure, citizenship and aesthetics.
Brief Chronology
Pre-1937: Congress allocates funds for study of “slums” in 1892. Local efforts at urban renewal pioneered in New York, Chicago,
and San Francisco and idea spreads to other cities in early 20th century. Congress includes legislation for slum clearance and public
housing projects in National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. Public Works Administration develops first federal housing projects in
1933. In Texas, only Dallas qualifies for PWA housing project.
September 1, 1937: Wagner-Steagall Act of 1937 (U.S. Housing Act) creates the U.S. Housing Authority and allows for the federal
subsidization of low-rent public housing projects by local housing authorities.
1937-1940: Texas passes its first, and only, state legislation regarding local public housing projects in anticipation of Wagner-
Steagall. Texas cities enthusiastically embrace urban renewal projects; all targeted to particular racial and ethnic groups. Austin claims
the first federal housing project in the United States, the Santa Rita Courts for “Latin American” tenants. The Austin Housing Authority
constructs also Chalmers Courts for “white” families and Rosewood Courts for “blacks.” San Antonio develops five housing projects, the
Apache and Alazán Courts for Mexicans, Wheatley and Lincoln Heights Courts for black families, and Victoria Courts for whites.
Post-1940: News of military conflict overseas shifts attention away from domestic front. The headline “War on the Slums” is
replaced by “War in Europe.” In Texas, only San Antonio continues to conduct urban renewal projects through the 1950s.
People developed a memory of struggle for public housing, in some cases “gendered,” for example: “The First Lady of Public
Housing”—Miss Maud Harris.1 Development of public housing in San Antonio strongly linked to community activist Father Carmelo
Antonio Tranchese, a priest assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Santa Rita Courts Historic District is described as an “enduring
physical reminder” of Lyndon B. Johnson’s early career and of the political ideals embodied during the late New Deal period.”2

1
“Legislative History of Public Housing Traced through 25 years,” Journal of Public Housing, no. 8 (October 15, 1962), front cover.
2
“Draft Nomination Application,” Fred McGhee and Associates. Web accessed 10/04/06: http://www.flma.org/santarita/Santa%20Rita%20Nomination.pdf.
Emphasis on aesthetics (often culturally- Emphasis on good order: “This building is Emphasis on cleanliness: “Mrs. Claude
based): “Mexican love of flowers shown typical of the neat, livable structures in Butler, with son, Jimmy, cleans up” [at
at Alazán Courts / hundreds of blooming Victoria Courts Project… built for white Victoria Courts].
pot plants decorate project’s porches.” families.”

Emphasis on health & development: Emphasis on family structure: “Tenants Emphasis on good citizenship: “Boy Scouts
A counselor meeting with tenants await chance to make deposit for at flag-raising ceremony in Victoria Courts.”
at Victoria Courts [regarding early Alazán Apartments.”
childhood development].

Note: All photos from San Antonio Light Photograph Collection, Institute of Texan Cultures. Original captions shown in quotations.