Seward Seaport Record

Million For Alaska Housing Received In Juneau

Five million dollars have been deposited in Juneau in the Federal Disbursing Office, for the use of the Alaska Housing Authority in connection with its new housing program which was approved by Congress last year, it was announced last week by E. Glen Wilder, Executive Director. "This fund, together with the recent 'unfreezing' of a portion of the Alaska Housing Authority Territorial funds by the Board of Administration in Juneau puts the AHA in a position to proceed with its broad new housing plans," Wilder stated. "We are now ready to do business and invite all prospective housing sponsors to contact the AHA for further information."

Approximately two years ago the AHA initiated its legislative program seeking to obtain the means to alleviate the acute housing shortage throughout the Territory, and to assist in the encouragement of a home building industry. During the year 1949, the Territorial Legislature passed authorizing legislation and the Congress approved an enabling Act known as the "Alaska Housing Act;" the direct result of the efforts of the AHA. and which has already resulted in a quantity of housing units in the major communities of Alaska to be planned for early construction as soon as the building season opens this spring. The 67 unit Turnagain Arms Apartment building in Anchorage, and the 682 unit apartment project for the Alaska Railroad and Fort Richardson also in Anchorage, is already well underway, and occupancy of these two projects is expected this spring and summer. Construction of a 132 unit, 12 story apartment building is getting underway in Juneau. These projects were made possible by the provisions of the Alaska Housing Act.

"We may assist corporate sponsors with the financing of their projects if private financing is not available. We also wish to help home builders otherwise by giving planning and design advice on their projects," Wilder said.

Wilder stated that the prime purposes of the programs of the Alaska Housing Authority is to encourage the greatest quantity of private financing and private construction that is possible. It is by assisting, financially and otherwise, prospective housing sponsors that the AHA hopes to encourage and develop a self-supporting home building industry for Alaska. The Alaska Housing Authority was approved by Congress as a mortgagee, and as such will use the available funds to lend to private housing sponsors. Loans may be made for the first mortgage and pre-construction financing and advances during construction. It was emphasized that loans by the AHA may only be made to corporate borrowers and when private financing is not otherwise available.

able. A further provision of the Alaska Housing Act makes it possible for the Alaska Housing Authority to directly construct housing for any community which is unable to obtain private construction. Congress permits the Alaska Housing Authority to construct housing in the Territory when such private sponsors and financing is not otherwise available because of the acuteness of the housing situation, and to provide a positive alternative to obtain necessary housing. There are, however, certain fundamental requirements placed upon the local community before the Alaska Housing Authority can go into the direct construction of homes or apartments. First, there must be conclusively shown to the Alaska Housing Authority that an effort has been made within the community to obtain the private construction of such housing; secondly, the community must establish the need for any housing requested for direct AHA construction; and thirdly, there must be a formal request by the local governing body of the community to the Alaska Housing Authority for construction.

The Alaska Housing Authority is now issuing a statement of the outline of the functions of the Alaska Housing Authority under the Alaska Housing Act. This outline will be sent to all interested persons or groups, and to each mayor and Chamber of Commerce throughout the Territory. In this statement there is contained the several methods of financing aid which the Authority may offer for home construction, and other general information about the program.

The $5,000,000 Federal Funds, which is the first half of an appropriated $10,000,000, is made available to the Alaska Housing Authority through the Administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency in Washington, D.C. To expedite the program, the administrator has established a program office at Anchorage, and has appointed Mr. William D. Burkheimer as the Alaska Program Representative. Mr. Burkheimer will assist the Alaska Housing Authority in the program and review all cases which involve a use of the Federal appropriation.

The AHA has district offices established at Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau and Ketchikan, and interested persons are requested to contact their nearest office, who will have information regarding the aids of the Authority.