Evening star., 1934-04-15
P. v. A. WILL PUSH
ATLANTA HOUSING
Prepared to Press Land Ac-
quisitlon in Court for
SIum Project.

The Government is about ready to
launch its $l23, ,000,0 900 Slum clearance
program on wide scale, Public Works
Administrator Ickes announced yes
terday, by pressing the flrst court pro-
ceedings to-, acquire land for one OF
the largest of the proposed loW-coSt
housing projects.
Attorney General Cummings, at the
request of Secretary Ickes, is to start
condemnation proceedings in Atlanta
this week. with a view to acquiring
title to land needed for S2,l0O, 900
housing operation for colored people.
The project has been indorSed by At
lanta's leading citizens.
Similar proceedings are expected
to be started at an early date IN nail
a dozen other cities where land values
have been held unreaSonably high, IN
the opinion of Secretary 1ckes and his
housing division.
Willing to Pay Fair Price.
The public works administrator de-
clared the Atlanta proceedings are pc,
ing started not as a threat 10 real
estate dealers and property owners,
hut merely to expedite the program.
The Government at all times, he SAID,
is willing to pay fair price ana VIII
continue to consider any reasonable
offer even after legal proceedings nave
been filed.
washington is not included among
the cities where the administration IS
being forced to resort to the courts 10
get its low-cost housing program
started. There has been no agree
ment here, it was said, on hVe or SIX
nroiects planned for various sections
of the CITY. Secretary Ickes, however,
will not hesitate to institute court
nroceedinps in Washington, 1t was
said as a last resort to expedite the
program when it is ready 10 De
launched a
"Acouisition of suitably situated
land at proper prices remains the
chief difficulty and key to the housing
proeram." Secretary Ickes said
"Iow-cost housing cannot be oulit
m high-priced land and P. w A. VIII
insist on low-cost land Where II
finances housing
Will Continue to Negotiate.
sIt has been decided to exercise the
right of the Government to institute
condemnation proceedings TO acquire
land at reasonable prices as fair ana
expeditious method of carrying tor-
ward the low-cost housing and slum
clearance program. This procedure
will not change our original purpose
In any way. Representatives OF the
p. w. A. will continue to negotiate
nrlV9te
tlement of fair purchase price 1or
properties under consideration.
Il have signed contracts for the
purchase of several pieces of property
in Atlanta and win continue to do so
when contracts for the purchase OF
properties are offered at a fair price.
Some time ago Secretary Ickes
served notice that real estate prices
were the chief stumbling block in the
path of his huge housing program.
With the institution of proceedings
this week, it was expected slum clear
ance will now form major part OF
the administration recovery program.
The recent decision of Controller
General McCarl held operations up for
awhile until that legal knot was un-
raveled. Heretofore, the housing oper-
ations of the Government have been
limited to the making of loans to
limited dividend corporations in a
number of cities. Yesterdays an
nouncement is the first contractuai
obligation on a project of the Housing
Corporation After title to the lands
is vested in the United States the
corporation will award contracts for
the buildings.
200 Structures to Be Built.
The Atlanta project is to be located
in the vicinity OF the Spelman and
Atlanta Universities for colored stu
dents. This university project involves
some 100000 square feet and will be
occupied by more than 200 structures
of about. 600 dwelling units. These
low-cost houses and apartments will
rent for about SIS room. Gardens
and Fairgrounds will enhance the
property.
The Government has been trying
since last Fall to acquire title to this
tract in Atlanta. The National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
the P. w. A. sent representatives to
the Georgia caftal last Winter to help
expedite the program. AS a result of
+ these negotiations, the administrator
. has signed contract for the purchase
Z of several parcels of land at a cost of
Z little less than $4,000.
This start is to expedite plans for
I slum clearance in Washington, a
! problem in which Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt is personally interested.
Exhaustive studies already have been
made of all the alley districts in the
Capital to serve as an aid in any pro-
gram when Federalfunds are allotted