Evening star., 1932-09-24
DISTRICT PROJECTS
TOTAL $33,379,2a|
Public and Private Building
Operations for Next
Year Surveyed.

washington can look forward to
real activity in public and private con-
struction operations during the next IL
months if estimates compiled by the
merchandising division of the Amer1-
can Architect prove correct.
A survey conducted by the publlca-
tion shows that on August Is projects
for the District Of Columbia, including
both those planned and ready for an
early start and those contemplated, but
not definitely scheduled, for action by
September of next year have total
estimated cost of $33,379,230.
This figure is the total OF present
and prospective building projects for
the District as reported by local archi-
tects who answered questionnaireS In
the survey.
Higher Figure Given.
An even higher figure is given by
the members of the merchandising di-
vision of the publication in its fore
cast for the next IL months, based on
the actual reports by the architects.
This forecast carries a figure OF $44,-
$4,000 for the District. OF this figure
S27,4OO,O0O Is listed for new buildings
now under planning; $9,800,000 for
contemplated new building; $6,520,000
for modernization work under plan
ming; and S838,0O0 for contemplated
moderniZation.
The estimates include those for Fed
eral operations where private archl-
tects have been employed to design
Federal structures.
For this reason it is not possible to
make comparisons with local building
records which do not include any Fed
eral projects.
The figure of s33,37s,23O reported by
the local architects includes total OF
planning; S7,178000 for contemplated
new building; $3,259,930 for modern
iZation work under planning and S4l9,-
600 for contemplated modernization.
The 1896 architects in all sections
of the country who joined IN the survey
reported total of Sl,257 ,596,004 for
the projects now under planning and
those contemplated for action in the
next II months. for the country as a
whole.
Of this figure s2se, 1902 was for
new building under planning; $500, ,142,-
922 for contemplated new building; ST.
95O,750 for modernization work under
planning and S39,879,250 for contem-
plated modernization projects.
First Tangible Results.
The various elements Of the recon-
struction program which have been
gradually getting under way for the
past two years are only now beginning
to show their first tangible results, it
is declared by c. Stanley Taylor, mer-
chandising consultant for the American
Architect.
These cannot be measured as yet
except to realize that they constitute the
real cause for the more optimistic feel
ing that swept through the country in
late August and early September" he
continues. Wall Street has told its
Cwn story. and while a considerable
measure of recent. activity has had a
professional background, there are def
mite signs of the beginning of recovery
in public confidence.
Almost all industries recently have
begun to show signs Of renewed ac-
tivity. The demand for products of
many kinds is steadily increasing now,
representing an accumulation of re-
quirementS resulting from a long period
of almost total abstinence from buy
ing. The building field has yet to
feel this reaction. 1t has always been
one of the last industries to benefit by
such reaction because it takes so long
from the inception of building project
to the time when manufacturer is
called upon to produce the necessary
materials or equipment.
Powerful influences are at work to
create and make possible increased
building activity. apparently beginning
during the coming year Normal re-
ouirments which have not been satisfied
for several years will call for con-
siderable volume of products to bring
the buildings of this country back to
proper condition and to meet in many
sections depleted facilities for the hous-
ing of family and business life.
There is now very definite de-
mand along these lines, but aside from
the general depression which caused
investors to hesitate. the lack of mort
gage money has been a positive bar to
many building and undermining opera
tons, particularly in the home building
field.
The work Of the Federal Recon-