The Interstate 496 Residential Relocation Survey

I was suppose to read Urban America Growth Crisis Rebirth by John McDonald but the copy at MSU was checked out and I was not able to get a copy of it from Washtenaw Community College to today so instead I read the The Interstate 496 Residential Relocation Survey by Bruce C. Brown. I'll have the other read by Monday but until than you have to settle for the relocation survey report. This is background information for our class project to a public history display that will be presented to the Michigan Historical Center. Enjoy the synopsis.

The Interstate 496 Residential Relocation Survey was published in March of 1965 by Bruce C. Brown. The survey took place from December 1, 1964 and was completed on January 25, 1965. The goal was to have every person interviewed. All the interviewers were women and the goal was to specifically look at relocating families to assess the magnitude of problem and recommend other areas to study. It shows the struggle went through to get this survey started. No group was entirely happy that this was taking place. The people involved were the Lansing Realtors, City of Lansing, Michigan State University, and the NAACP. 357 out of the 432 homes were interviewed the other 75 were “not home.” In the supplement it was revealed 81 additional families responded due to circumstances not revealed and 75 were not contacted at all. On January 27, 1965 Brown and the interviewers presented the data in front of the City Hall. What was revealed was (1) people were happy someone was interested in their plight, (2) Retired people would rather rent when relocated then own, (3) Most minority groups felt that Human Relations committee was going to help them relocate, (4) Older people renting parts of their home worried about the possibility of being able of duplicating the income-producing property when relocated, (5) Many felt they were underpaid for their homes, (6) The concern over quality affordable housing, and (7) The exploitation of high rents for poor housing. The final conclusions were (1) Coordinated and Progressive approach to housing in City of Lansing, (2) Housing directed at retired and welfare recipients, and (3) Housing agency established for purpose of aiding relocation efforts.