Evening star., 1933-10-12
Kohn Would Use BIighted
Areas to Show Country
What Can Be Done.
PROMINENT RESIDENTS
TO HELP GOVERNMENT
Mrs. Roosevelt Expected to Join
Committee on Public
Works Plans.

The National Capital is to be used as
laboratory to show the country what
can be done in slum elimination and
construction Of low-cost housing, Rob-
ert D. Kohn. director of housing Of the
Public Works Administration, indicated
last night at Cosmos Club dinner, par
ticipated in by the National Conference
OF City Planning and the American
Civic Association.
Tomorrow afternoon at the club an
other gathering will be held, called by
Frederic A. Delano, association presi-
dent. and other Federal authorities, to
choose 10 or more outstanding Wash
ingtonians to aid the Government in
the local housing problem. Mrs Frank
lin D. Roosevelt is being asked to be
one OF these and indications are that
She will accept.
I hope the President will let us do
three demonstrations here" said Mr..
Kohn, explaining this would not be on
grand scale-as there is more actual
construction work here for the Govern
ment than elsewhere-but to show other
communities what can be accomplished.
i would Ike to do great Negro prof.
ect, tearing down some Of the miserable
sections that now exist. I hope it will
be well done so the Senators and Rep
resentatives may carry the program
throughout the country. We want to
do demonstration in white section,
as we'll
Will Improve Homes.
I'VE want to rehabilitate certain Sec
tons, such as making the housing fronts
lbetter-improving those buildings that
are worth improving. We want to keep
what is worth while and show that you
can save blighted area.
1.-The Washington architects are help.
ing in the problem. Solution of the
problem Of land accumulation will be
difficult. We don't announce where we
are going to start. We play one section
against the other, having different
groups Of real estate men at work. The
! minute We have to pay high price for
land the rents go up and the program
will not be effective.
If We can really get low-cost hous-
ing and get cities interested in this
problem, where they would not even
admit slums exist, We shall have done a
great deal. If we can make a demon
stration here in washington, it will
be of benefit all over the country. The
support Of your association here will
be extremely valuable"
Says All Have Slums.
"I know no town that has no slums,"
said Mr. Kohn, declaring that a visit
to an unnamed university community
convinced him that within few blocks
of the beautiful campus appalling slum
conditions existed. Some cities, he said.
will not even admit they have slums.
I'VE take the farmers tubercular COW
away from him, but We continue to al
low tubercular- breeding houses to be
rented year after year." he told his
audience
Fifty cities are working on housing
plans now, said he, reciting that Detroit
has come in with a municipal project,
Milwaukee is to follow and Buffalo is
considering the program. The exercise
of the right of eminent domain is in
effective in this country. said Kohu.
contrasted with the procedure in Euro
pean countries.
I'VE have to get over this method
he whereby fancy prices are demanded
and paid for inferior locations"
At tomorrow's meeting Mr.. Delano,
Mr.. Kohn, John Ihlder, former hous-
ing expert of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, who made
an exhaustive study of Washington s
alley dwellings, and is now associated
with the Public Works Administration,
will meet interested public-spirited cit
liens. The names of those that have
been invited have not been made public.
It was learned Mr.. Delano has received
a number of letters of criticism, ask
ing by what right he is to appoint a
Washington committee to work with
the Government in improving housing
here. Mr. Delano explains the meet
ing was called at the instance of Mr..
Kohn. 1t is said the committee ap-
pointed is not to be a mere window
dressing body, but will be real work.
ing force.