Evening star., 1933-10-23
|OFF|C|AL CIRCLES
| PUSHING DRIVE ON
| SLUM CLEARANCE
Chairman King and Repre-
sentatives of Agencies
Discuss Problem.
HOUSING PROJECTS
| WOULD COST LITTLE
Alley Work and One Block of
Homes Each for Colored and
White Residents Planned.


government. through the Public works
Ao1nir11strat+o-l, launch several loW-cost
housing projects in the National Can't
lal aS means OF demonstrating to The
Country "hat can be done in the field
VI sum clearance was given now i'm
pp.tus toCay When Chairman King of the
senate District Committee brought to-
Gether officials of the District C;overn-
ment, the Park and Planning Commis-
sion and the public works agency IN
cooperate IN considering the proposal
senator King said following the con-
ference that he felt sure the nan would
De earned out and would prove highly
beneficial in showing what NAV be ar.
compllShed both here and elsewhere
along the same lines.
6Ctn Senator King and Robert n
kohn, head Of the Housing Division of
tne Pubhc Works Administration en-
pnaslzed that the consideration being
gwen 10 these proposed demonstration
projects Is not intended to interfere
WIN or lessen the need for passage of
tAe alIey Improvement bill for WASH
Ihston' which has passed the Senate
anu IS que TO be taken up in the House
at the coming session.
Not Going Into Business.
II was emphasized also that it is not
the aim OF this program to have the
government go into the hoUging busi-
ness permanently. but merely as an
emergency step, with the idea of dis
posing of the properties later on.
The meeting today was planned orig
many as a conference between MIR.
hohn and Senator King. but the Sena-
tor ceclded to have various groups of
oIllclaIS ana others, who have given
STUDY to the problem, attend, and as the
ulScusslon proceeded, it was decided
10 70 lorm committee through which
Inese various groups could Cooperate
There were present also representat;ves
OF the Allied Architects. Inc, who have
been studying the question
l. ;. Settle, secretary of the Park
ana Planning Commission, announced
II mao oeen decided at the conference
10 suggest to the Public Works Agency
tllat the program be considered in three
phases, as follows: One or more allev
Improvement demonstrations: deveIon.
E:ent OF one or more blocks Of loV-cns,
housing for white persons. and develon-
Ment Oh one or more blocks of low-cost
housing for colored
Fight Land Sharks.
Those interested in the subject have
avoided discussing probable areas to be
GoESloereo IN order to avoid increasing
land values, In this connection il was
stated following today's meeting. that
HIgn prices are encountered on any
area that may be considered, such an
area will oe eliminated from consid-
Grafton and Others considered.
II Is not expected that the Public
Works Administration will take anv
formal action toward providing for
theSe demonstration projects until final
ana definite plans are ready to be pre-
sented to the agency
Senator King presided at the large
meeting, originally called, and left the
gathering, turning over the conduct
OF affairs to Commissioner Luther n
Relchelderfer. who presided at the or
ganlZatlon session. The head of this
ne" group, which will advise on the
ailey dwelling program and coordinate
lhe different interested activities will
! De Commissioner Reichelderfer. John
Nolen, jr., city planner of the National
capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, was chosen executive vice CHAIR
man.
Working Out Details.
The committee will be enlarged to in
clude not only official agencies renre-
sented at today's session. but the citi-
zeHS OF washington, Mr. Nolen said
NO complete official list of the newly
organized committee was available to-
DAY, lnasmuch as MIR. Nolen explained
tnat all interests in the District of
Columola Will have membership on it
and further details are to be worked
out by an executive committee, which
will meet on Wednesday.
The other District COy,, ,,,ieeio,a-s
Maj Gen. Herbert B. Crosby and Mai.
John c. Gotwals, also participated in
the meeting
Representatives on the Reichelderfer
Committee will include delegates from
the recently formed Housing Advisory
Committee set up under the chairman
ship of Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the Planning Commission, as we'll as a
contact man for Mr. KohnS organiza-
ton. The Reichelderfer Committee will
secure information on specific projects
that might be undertaken here, and will
make its recommendations to the Public
Works Administration.
Mr.. Settle said the Government has
no idea of going into the housing busi-
ness. The demonstration" projects
would he turned over to private opera
tion. through limited dividend corpora
tionS Or other enterprises so that the
Federal Government would be reim-
burSed, he said. Thus, Mr.. Settle
pointed out, the projects would be self
liquidating. Presumably. the emer-
gency would be over by 1885, Mr.. Settle
asserted, so that by that time the Fed
eral Government could demonstrate de-
sirable housing activities
In addition TO the Commissioners, the
District Building was represented by
Auditor Daniel j. Donovan and Melvin
c. Hazen, District surveyor.