Evening star., 1935-04-23
S[UM AREA FEARS.
MODEL HOME RENT.
WILL Be TOO HIGH
Southwest Section Tenants
Claim Project May Make
Them Homeless.
8TO 10 IN FAMILIES
NOW LIVING IN SHACKS
Charges Expected to Range From
S. to $40 Per Room-1ckes
Negotiates in Secret.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.
Property owners and residents OF
a small slum area in Southwest Wash
ington are torn between hope and
despair by efforts Of the Federal Gov
ernment to establish a model low
rent housing project in the area.
This is the proposed settlement for
500 colored families on which Secre-
tary Ickes' Housing Division is pre-
pared to spend $2,487,000, at latest
quoted figures, in erecting sanitary
brick dwellings that would. cost pro-
room a month. Construction is con-
tingent on the Governments securing
title to about five blocks of real
estate in the vicinity Of the Washing
ton Barracks. The proposed housing
site is bounded on the north by M
street, on the south by P street, east
by Half street and on the west by a
section of the old drainage canal ex-
tending between First and Second
streets.
But it develops on inquiry that sew
eral hundred colored families now re-
siding in dilapidated frame houses
and Shacks in this area would be un-
able to pay even the moderate monthly
rent the Government would demand
for its model homes. Scores of them
are now paying Sis a month or less,
1t was said, for homes accommodating
eight or ten persons.
Few Own Homes.
For families such as these, who
comprise at least half Of the COM
munity, the proposed housing project
would fail of its purpose unless they
receive substantial Federal aid. Few
of them own their own homes, 1t was
claimed, and all face the prospect of
being ousted to seek shelter in other
slum areas without assurances of bet
tering their condition.
The section is preponderantly COL
ored. Some Of the more favored could
we'll afford to pay Government install.
nents on three and four room family
homes. Others obviously could not
do it.
There are some landlords, resident
or absentee, it was said, who are huoyed
by hopes that they can squeeze a
fancy price from the Government for
their holdings. If they do entertain
this hope they reckon without ap-
parent knowledge of how Secretary
1ckes operates. P. w. A. officials say
he would drop negotiations for this
Southwest Washington site like hot
coal if he finds land values too high
TO build and operate a housing project
at a moderate cost.
The problem that confronts the
Housing Division in the Southwest
area is comparable to the same diff
Guilty experienced in the alley clear
ance plans. That problem is to find
suitable homes for the families living
in the area to be demolished. In the
proposed housing project the Govern
ment no doubt would have to find
homes elsewhere for scores of fami-
Lies unable to avail themselves of the
new model homes, even at the low
rents planned.
Other Operators Quit.
Other complications have arisen in
this section, however, which are a
source Of worry to many residents in
view OF the uncertainty that involves
the Governments own plans. The
Public Works Administration is not
at all sure that this project will be
built. They hope and expect it will
materialize, but as long as there is
the chance that the Government will
do something, private builders are
fighting shy of new construction in
The area. No one would be so rash as
to compete against the Government
in this locality, real estate operator
and builder informed The Star.
A privately constructed low-rent
housing project was erected few years
ago on Half street, bordering on the
Government-planned site. This con-
sists Of rows of neat brick dwellings,
which rent for prices believed to be
very little outside the range Of the
proposed Government prices.
There Is good reason to doubt
whether the Government can build its
own model homes any cheaper than
these privately constructed houses,
especially when many structures would
have to be bought and torn down
within the site.
The houses which the Government
would like to build in this southwest
area would be carefully planned and
as carefully built. They would con-
tain all the modern conveniences-
electric lights, hot and cold running
water and heating plant. Such family
units in p. w. A. projects usually con-
tain from three to five rooms.
For this reason tenants of many
OF the old frame houses, many of
them lacking any conveniences, simply
can't see how they can afford to pay
the SIS. $40 or $50 monthly payments
for the new homes which the Gov
ment would amortize over a period
Of 80 years.
Fear Stores in Area.
The section is an eye-sore in that
portion Of Washington. It abounds
with ancient brick and frame struc-
lures, vacant lots and auto wrecking
dumps. Probably the largest struc-
lures In the cara is the Rehoboth
Baptist Church. There are q few
small stores and businesses. Its prox-
unity to the Washington Barracks and
entrance to the War College makes
it q favorable site for housing
project.
p. w. A. officials have long refused
to disclose the site and are reluctant
even to discuss the proposed plans.
They admit, however, that none Of
the property has been bought nor q
single option taken up. But a few
inquiries In the southwest section are
all that is needed to direct any one
to the site. Too many residents have
been approached by Government ap-
praisers and real estate agents for
the matter to be kept secret any
where except in the Interior Depart
ment. ~ t =