Evening star., 1935-08-20
ANACOST|A TO GET
P.W.A. HOUSING lob
COSTING MILLIONS.
700 Family Project Ap.
proved, Land Purchased
and Funds Allotted.
SIS AREAS INCLUDED;
PLAYGROUND PLANNED
Electric Kitchens and Central
Heating Plants to Be Provided.
Rents Will Be Low.

The second low-cost housing project
for the District. 55-acre develop
ment in Anacostia to cost $500, 900,
was announced today by the Public
Works Administration, which has
allotted the money.
Options have been obtained on the
land, now unimproved, located at the
intersection of Anacostia road and
Ridge road southeast, and final con-
tracts for the sale are expected to be
signed late today
The project planned for the north
east has been abandoned, it also was
announced.
The new project will contain one
and two story row houses and two
story flats to accommodate TOO fam
lilies Ito rent for the same rents now
paid for substandard accommoda-
tions" There will be lit three-room
flats, ITO two-room flats. 257 two
story row houses and l59 one-story
houses.
Central Heating Planned
All will be completely equipped for
electrical operation. with electric
ranges for cooking and electric re-
frigeratorS. Heat and hot water will
be supplied from a central plant.
Fairgrounds and other recreational
facilities will be supplied and later
a swimming pool may be built A
community center hall also will be
constructed.
The present plans call for i'm
mediate development of 43 of the 55
acres. The project will be called
Anacost Terrace.
The administrations announcement
said its purpose was to provide neces-
sary housing as pointed out in a
survey year ago by the Public Utili-
ties Commission.
By obtaining options on a large
undeveloped tract. officials said, they
have avoided the pitfall of condemna-
ton proceedings which threaten to
block the successful carrying out Of
the colored housing project in South
west Washington.
Funds for the Anacostia project will
come from the $4,3o0,0 600 previously
earmarked by P. w. A. for such ex-
penditures in Washington.
Since property owners in the South
west attacked the Governments con-
demnation suit In court, the utmost
secrecy has been maintained in con-
nection with P. w. A. plans for slum
clearance and housing programs. In
going outside the strict city limits
for his latest venture in housing,
Ickes is merely carrying forward a
previously announced policy to avoid
long and costly condemnation pro-
ceedings whenever they are threat
ened
This new project, it is understood,
is to be located on the outskirts of a
section which has received little at
tention in the way of public expendi-
lures for improvement. It offers an
ideal site by reason of the fact the
land can be purchased at a moderate
rate.
Housing officials explained today
1t had been impossible to get to-
gether" on the Rhode Island avenue
site. Ickes has never officially an
nounced the location. but it was
known to residents and business in
terests Of the section that the Gov
ernment was trying to purchase a
large acreage on the south side Of the
avenue between Twelfth and Seven
teenth streets northeast.
Citizens Opposed Plan.
From the beginning it has been a
source Of trouble and embarrassment
to officials. The Rhode Island Ave-
nue. Citizens Association led a de-
termined fight against it on the plea
the project would bring undesirable"
into the section, would tend to lower
property values and add to an already
overcrowded school population.
To add to these complications, the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad suddenly
remembered, officials said. they had
obtained right of way across the
tract about SO years ago. Oficials
said they had placed a high price on
this right of way. The undeveloped
real estate is the property Of single
estate.
With one thing or another arising
to complicate the situation, the hous-
ing division foresaw a long and un-
certain wrangle. They decided to
abandon the idea of building in
Northeast Washington and looked
about for some other location in the
Eastern section Of the District.