CHAPTER 533

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 36-4, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the creation of redevelopment and housing authorities.

{H 726]
Approved March 29, 1958

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 36-4, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 36-4. In each city and in each county there is hereby created a
political subdivision of the Commonwealth, with such public and corporate
powers as are set forth in this chapter, to be known respectively as the
Me saaaia asavaveaansssdiaersvensieaieasariearsmeraTesian TNT (insert name of city or county)
Redevelopment and Housing Authority” (hereinafter referred to as “au-
thority” or “housing authority’); provided, however, that any authority
not now activated shall not transact any business or exercise its powers
hereunder until or unless the qualified voters of such city or county as the
case may be shall by a majority vote of such qualified voters voting in an
election held as provided in § 36-4.1, have indicated a need for an authority
to function in such city or county. The election to determine whether or
not there is such need for an authority to function (a) may be called by the
governing body by resolution or (b) shall be called by the governing body
upon the filing of a petition signed by one hundred freeholders of the city
or county, as the case may be, asserting that there is need for an authority
to function in such city or county and requesting the governing body to
call such election.

The governing body may by resolution call for an election to deter-
mine whether there is need for an authority in the city or county, as the
case may be, if it believes (a) that insanitary or unsafe inhabited dwelling
accommodations exist in such city or county or (b) that there is a shortage
of safe or sanitary dwelling accommodations in such city or county avail-
able to persons of low income at rentals they can afford or (c) that there is
a blighted or deteriorated area which needs redeveloping. In determining
whether dwelling accommodations are unsafe or insanitary or whether an
area is blighted or deteriorated the governing body may take into con-
sideration the degree of overcrowding, the percentage of land coverage,
the light, air, space and access available to the inhabitants of such dwelling
accommodations, the size and arrangement of the rooms, the sanitary
facilities, and the extent to which conditions exist in such buildings which
endanger life or property by fire or other causes.

In any suit, action or proceeding involving the validity or enforcement
of or relating to any contract of the authority, the authority shall be con-
clusively deemed to have become established and authorized to transact
business and exercise its powers hereunder if the qualified voters of the
county or city have indicated in an election held pursuant to § 36-4.1, that
there is need for the authority.