Evening star., 1925-02-28
CHEAPEST HOUSE
PLACED AT $500.
Figure Held Lowest for New
Homes for D. C. Alley
OWelIerS.

Where are the alley dwellers to
60 is a question that has been con-
tinually on the lips of Washing
tonians ever since the possibility of
more than 5000 persons being evicted
by the city from their dwellings be-
came known.
Inquiries show that there is prac-
ticalIy now here for these people to
90. Not only are there no properties
in the city that can be rented at
the price these people are willing to
pay, but as far as houses are con-
cerned very little construction of
rental properties has taken place in
the last few years.
An inquiry at the office Of the
building inspector, as to whether
there had been any cheap houses or
apartments constructed that would
be within the means of the alley
dwellers, brought a negative answer.
Little or No Rental Property.
Inquiry at the Washington Real
Estate Board brought practically the
same answer. 1t was revealed that
no properties had been built for rent
and that only few houses in the
southeast section OF the city had been
built for as low as $3.50.
Shelby J. Davidson. local Colored
lawyer and real estate dealer, stated
that there were no apartments for
colored people constructed other than
the twofamily apartment dwellings
which sold from $6,.J 20 $4,000.
Single family houses, NE said, were
well over $4,000 Mr Shelby stated
that he did not thina there were any
places for the allys dweiers to go,
as minimum rents on apartments or
flats were from $&I 20 $42.50, with
heat, or $50, if the tenant provided
his own heat.
While in the office of the building
inspector the reporter was shown the
plan for small house drawn up by
the office of the building Inspector as
an example of the type Of house
which would go on the smallest lot
allowed 10y the Zoning Commission,
namely. l4X50 feet
Lowest Estimate S2.IG5.
Upon request the office of the build
ing inspector made Inquiries among
several builders as to the cost OF the
building and found that estimates
ranged from b cents 10 20 cents per
cubic foot. As there are 300 cubic
feet in the structure this would place
the cost of the building at the lowest
estimate at S2.765.
Desirable lots for the construction
of the&c houses. which would be
suitable for alley dwellers, could be
found in AnaCostia. near Sheridan
road or Barr Farms or in the
Benning road section OF the city, it
is said. The assessor states that lots
of the minimum size in these sections
could be bought for SlOO to 5000. This
would place the cheapest house and
lot at approximately $4,000. At re-
turn of 10 per cent gross these houses
could rent for about S24 per month.
The house as shown b. the plans
of the building inspectors office
would be constructed of brick in
rows. The dwelling would contain
two rooms and bath upstairs, "A
dining room, living room and kitchen
downstairs. In addition there is a
front and back porch. Plumbing,
electric light fixtures and heating are
provided for in the estimate.
Detached House Cost $4,000.
The house which is on d 14x50
lot would be 14x23.4 in size. To OBJ
tain the minimum cost row construc-
tion would be necessary. Detached
houses would cost about $3,500. less
per cent for frame construction or
the use of inferior materials. \ bum