Evening star., 1934-12-08
ARCHITECTS BACK
PLANS OF F. H. A.
Long.Range Operations to
Be Discussed by Repre-
sentatives Here.

Architects throughout the country
will work with the Federal Housing
Administration in carrying out the
long range operations planned by Ad-
ministrator Moffett, according to an
announcement Of the American In
stitute of Architects. Architectural
examiners, responsible for appraisals
Of residential property. will be at
tached to the underwriting organiza-
sous which the administration will
at up in 81 centers.
Representative architects from all
sections Of the United States have
been summoned to conferences now in
progress in Washington with respect
10 the immediate establishment OF
the program in every State.
In creating its underwriting organ
ization for the system Of mutual mort
gage insurance, the Federal Housing
Administration has taken recognition
Of the architectural profession in
way which I believe is unique not only
In governmental agencies, but in pri-
vate financial institutions as we'll"
said a statement to the institute by
Miles l.. Colean, head Of the technical
division Of the F. H. A.
Importance of Training.
1T has said in effect that the in
spection of buildings, the determine
ton of risks arising from the design
and construction, the estimation of
building costs, the consideration Of
the layout of building lots. etc, are
matters upon which judgment may
be best exercised by the men whose
training and experience have been de-
voted to these endeavors.
This may seem to be an obvious
conclusion. but it is none the less the
first time that the ability and expert
ence Of architects have been fully rec
ognized in the development of an
appraisal system for residential prop
erty.
In each of the 81 underwriting
Offices to be established throughout
the country will be placed an archl-
tectural examiner, assisted by staff
Of inspectors and estimators varying
with the size Of the area and the VOL
ume Of business
In communities which do not have
separate underwriting Offices and
which are too distant to be readily ac-
Cessible to the nearest Office, the func-
tions of the examiner and his staff will
be performed by selected architects
working on fee basis subject to the
examiner for the district.
Upon the architectural examiner
will rest full responsibility for rating
the degree Of investment risk deriving
from the property itself. This includes
consideration Of such factors as ap-
pearance. plan, construction. relation
ship to the lot, etc. Risk ratings for
neighborhood and for relationships of
properties and their neighborhoods
will be made in consultation with the
architectural examiner.
Checking of Costs.
"He will be entirely responsible for
checking of construction costs and for
the inspection of buildings during con-
struction. His Judgment will be called
into play whenever questions Of land
planning in new subdivisions arise. He
will be responsible for the development
OF construction standards applicable
to his community and supplementing
those issued by the central Office in
Washington.
Knowing the great responsibility
which would rest upon these exami-
ners. not only in performing the duties
of their specific assignments, but in
exercising an influence upon the fu-
ture course of community develop
ment, the Federal Housing Admins
tration sought to obtain the services
Of the most skilled men to be found
in the profession.
THE men we're carefully selected by
members Of the architectural profess
sion and were called to Washington to
study the proposed system Of mortgage
risk rating This school, as it turned
out, was equally useful to the Wash
ington members Of the administration
as it was to the newly selected field
officers.
Il am confident that these men, on
returning to their posts, will bring
great credit to both the Federal
Housing Administration and to the
profession Of architecture"