Evening star., 1933-12-04
Home Buildings and Land
Developers National Com.
mittee Open Sessions.
HOPES TO SHOW P. W. A.
"IRREFUTABLE FIGURES"
Don A. Lotus Hits Administra-
tons Housing Boards AL.
legged Inaction.

With the announced objective of
presenting to the Public Works Admin
istration "irrefutable" figures on the
need for Federal financing of low-cost,
single family dwellings in the United
States, the Home Buildings and Land
Developers National Committee opened
a two-day convention in the Washing
ton Hotel today. More than 100 dele
gates from various sections Of the
country had registered by noon and
more were expected.
Don A. Lotus of Cleveland, chair
man of the committee, in opening the
meeting attacked the failure of the
Public Works Administration Housing
Board to act on applications for first
mortgage loans for new residential
for in the act.
Cites Potential Owners.
In the so-called middle quarters" Of
our population, Lotus said. there are
8,5o0OO0 potential home owners who
have between $500 and $500 in the
banks or in boarding who are ready.
anxious and able to buy new homes
at once.
"These people" he said, twill not be
badgered or forced to buy used homes.
They are ready to go into new housing.
These are the forgotten people. They
should be taken care of rather than the
slunn dweIlers. who cannot be dragged
from tnt cutters ana SluLlS and pQt In
new housing"
In the white-co!lar class. the speaker
said are the the people who hold hold the pros
Discussing What Kind OF a Home
Can the Public Secure Now" DR.. Alex
ander T. SAKE of the School of Archi-
lecture. Columbia University, declared
the United States is not overbuilt in
moderate, desirable housing. Largely
through overf1nancing during boom"
times, lack of supervision of construc-
ton, recklessness on the part of the
mortgage companies In distribution of
money, and the like, he said, there is
today definite demand in every COM
munity for new homes for average in
come workers.
Groups housing" he said. "is against
the public demand. The size Of the
property is restricted, the saving in
building is not more than per cent,
and the neighborhood is weakened in
character by such projects. The de-
tached home has, individuality and al
lows for expansion and is conducive to
good upkeep."
DR.. SAKE said the greatest faults with
the building industry were lack OF
knowledge on the part of architects on
small house work. too much building up
of financing. resulting in $4,000 homes
selling for Sl0500: lack of responsible
ity on the part of the average builder
and a lack of faith on the part of the
house-building public on true perform
ance
Preliminary Survey Reports.
Reporting on a preliminary survey
the committee said that so home build.
ing companies in IS cities want total
Of S27,o35 485 to construct 1880 homes
for families having S7.350,000 ready tc
put into down payments. A personal
plea from 2,438 families themselves tina,
the Government make such interest
bearing loans to local home builders
forms a part Of this survey.
When figures being brought to the
convention by delegates have been as
sembled they will be presented at the
White House, where the committee will
go in body tomorrow. and to Secre-
tary Ickes. public works administrator
Immediately afterward.
A complete report on the first mort
gage financing poll will be made at the
morning session tomorrow.