Housing Authority v. Vida Shoecraft

254 P.2d 628, 116 Cal. App. 2d 813, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1143
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 20, 1953
DocketCiv. No. 19342; Civ. No. 19343
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 254 P.2d 628 (Housing Authority v. Vida Shoecraft) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Housing Authority v. Vida Shoecraft, 254 P.2d 628, 116 Cal. App. 2d 813, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1143 (Cal. Ct. App. 1953).

Opinion

VALLÉE, J.

Appeals by a number of the defendants from the interlocutory judgments in two actions brought by plaintiff to condemn the fee title to real property for use as a site for the construction and operation of a low-rent housing project. The actions were consolidated for trial. Separate findings were made and interlocutory judgments entered. The [815]*815appeals are submitted on settled statements; one set of briefs; and will be decided in one opinion.

The complaints are each in three counts. The first alleges that the public interest and necessity require the acquisition of the property for use as a site for the construction and operation thereon of a low-rent housing project to provide living accommodations for persons or families who lack the amount of income necessary to enable them to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding. The second alleges that the public interest and necessity require the acquisition of the property for slum clearance. The third alleges the public purpose to be slum clearance and development of low-rent public housing. The parties stipulated as to the market value of the property.

The court found that the public interest and necessity require ' the acquisition of the fee title to the property. It further found the property is being acquired for the following public purposes: (a) for use as a site for the construction and operation thereon by plaintiff of a low-rent housing project, as alleged in the first count of the complaints; (b) to demolish, clear, or remove buildings from the area in which said real property is situated, which area is detrimental to the safety, health and morals of the people by reason of the dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation or sanitary facilities of the dwellings predominating thereon; and, (c) for both of those purposes. It also found that prior to the commencement of the actions the commissioners of plaintiff duly and regularly adopted a resolution which declared that the acquisition of the property is necessary for the public purposes found, and that the project had been approved by the city council of the city of Los Angeles. It further found that: within the area of operation of plaintiff “there are persons who lack the amount of income which is necessary to enable them to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding”; the area in which the property is situated “is detrimental to the safety, health and morals of the people by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation or sanitary facilities of the dwellings predominating thereon”; and, the project is planned and located in the manner which will be most compatible with the greatest public good and the least private injury.

Pursuant to the Rules on Appeal (Rule 7(a)), the settled statements say the points raised by defendants on the appeals [816]*816are: (1) Plaintiff is without power to condemn the property since it has not complied with the applicable statutory requirements, which are conditions precedent to such power and the exercise thereof; (2) There was no showing by plaintiff that the taking is necessary for any authorized or lawful use.

Plaintiff is a public corporation. (Health & Saf. Code, § 34310.) It is empowered to engage in the development, construction, and operation of low-rent public housing projects, subject to the requirement that the governing body of the city of Los Angeles approve any project by resolution. (Idem. §§ 34312, 34313.) It has the power to acquire, pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure, any real property “which it deems necessary for its purposes . . . after the adoption by it of a resolution declaring that the acquisition of the real property described in it is necessary for such purposes.” (Idem. §§ 34325, 34315(d). Italics added.) Section 1238(21) of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that the right of eminent domain may be exercised in behalf of any work or undertaking of a housing authority (a) to demolish, clear or remove buildings from any area which is detrimental to the safety, health and morals of the people by reason of the dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation or sanitary facilities of the dwellings predominating in such areas; or (b) to provide dwellings, apartments or other living accommodations for persons or families who lack the amount of income which is necessary (as determined by the body engaging in said work or undertaking) to enable them to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings without overcrowding.”

Defendants first assert that the project has not been approved by the city council of Los Angeles. The evidence established that it had been approved. One of these actions was commenced April 20, 1951, the other May 11, 1951. On August 8, 1949, the council adopted an ordinance by which it approved the development, construction, and operation of a low-rent housing project or projects consisting of approximately 10,000 dwelling units. On August 17, 1950, plaintiff sent a letter to the council stating it had selected 12 sites, among them a site on the properties sought to be condemned in these actions. The letter listed the sites and a map of each was attached. On November 16, 1950, plaintiff sent a letter to the council in which it advised that one site had been abandoned and the boundaries of several others [817]*817revised. The letter requested that the proposal of plaintiff to acquire the land comprising the 11 sites described on attached maps, including the site involved here, be approved. On November 22, 1950, the council, by resolution, approved the proposal of plaintiff. These acts of the council constituted approval of .the project in compliance with the statute.1 (Housing Authority v. City of Los Angeles, 38 Cal.2d 853 [243 P.2d 515]; Drake v. City of Los Angeles, 38 Cal.2d 872 [243 P.2d 525].)2

Defendants next assert that the project is barred by article XXXIV of the Constitution, added in 1950, which requires approval of a majority of the electors of a city as a prerequisite to the establishment of any low-rent housing project. The point has no merit. Article XXXIV specifically excludes from its operation any project “where there shall be in existence on the effective date hereof (December 24, 1950), a contract between any state public body and the Federal Government in respect to such project.” (Stat. 1951, p. CXXIV.) The evidence shows that such a contract between plaintiff and the federal government was in existence on the effective date of article XXXIV. (See Blodget v. Housing Authority, 111 Cal.App.2d 45 [243 P.2d 897].)

It is next asserted that this project cannot be considered a slum clearance project because there is no evidence that the city council approved a slum clearance project. The approval of the council expressly declared that it was given pursuant to section 8(b) of the Housing Authorities Law. (Now Health & Saf. Code, § 34313.) The approval was of a “housing project” as that term is defined in the Housing Authorities Law. At the time the project was approved, that law in relevant part defined- a “housing project” as “ (1) to demolish, clear or remove buildings from any slum area; ...

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Related

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF CITY OF LOS ANGELES v. Peters
261 P.2d 561 (California Court of Appeal, 1953)

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Bluebook (online)
254 P.2d 628, 116 Cal. App. 2d 813, 1953 Cal. App. LEXIS 1143, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/housing-authority-v-vida-shoecraft-calctapp-1953.