Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-07
A Cost-Price Housing Plan.

Housing for 10000 Government
workers at cost is a project calculated
to arouse the keenest interest on the
part of the prospective beneficiaries
of this plan. and likewise those who
engage in furnishing housing ac-
commodations for the people as a
business. Were 1t not that the Secre-
tary of Commerce formally announces
the project as one made in good faith
by an unnamed member of this com
munity and starts an inquiry among
the Government employees to deter
mine their willingness to cooperate
in the enterprise. it might be received
with some skepticism.
The magnitude of this proposal is
to be grasped only when one considers
that it involves the building of 60
structures, each housing 1000 per-
sons, or 80 housing 1000 each. AT
the largest scale of occupation, 1000,
this would constitute one of the great
est building works ever undertaken in
Washington at once under single d.
rection. 1t would require several
squares of ground. The announce
ment is made that these apartments
will be situated within ten minutes of
the center of the city. That means
expensive sites. There is no vacant
land available within the area indi.
Gated. Locations for a large group of
apartment buildings would have to be
upon already improved property.
Where is it to be found in acreage
sufficient for the purpose at rates per-
hitting constructions in which apart
ments may be leased or sold at the
rate of $3.50 a room?
The capital necessary for such a
work would run well into the millions.
Even though guaranteed as to use in
advance on a co-operative-payment
basis, very large sum of money
would be necessary for initial expend-
iture. 1t is to be hoped that the in.
dividua4 who stands ready to finance
this enterprise viii not remain anony-
nous.
Apart from the feasibility of the
plan, however, is the question of need.
There is at present no shortage of
housing accommodations in Washing
ton. The congestion which was felt
here during and for some time after
the war has been relieved by active
building works that have provided
dwellings and apartments in large
number, more than meeting the ur.
gent demand. Realtors have already
expressed doubt of the feasibility of
the plan from the point of view Of
construction and operating costs on
the basis of $12.5O monthly rental for
each room. They also express doubt
as to the possibility of finding go 900
Government workers who are Sin the
market" for even such cheap rentals.
Since the wartime congestion a great
many of the Government employees
have begun the buying of their own
homes and are now satisfactorily stu
ated.
Should this big work eventuate and
prove feasible as an economic propo-
sition the effect upon the realty mar
ket of Washington would be decidedly
unfortunate. The question arises
whether the Government should by
it's cooperation promote a non-com-
mercial competitive construction en-
terprise which must, If successful,
have the effect of either establishing
two standards of rentals in Washing
ton, or of forcing all rentals down to
a cost basis and cause enormous losses
to those who have expended capital
in great sums in constructions in the
line of legitimate business.