Evening star., 1935-03-26
TO SECURE
|. TITLE FOR WHITE
| HOUSING Project
Second LoW-Rental Plant to
Be Located Soon in North.
east D. C.
BOTH SET-UPS TO USE
MORE THAN q MILLION
Impounded Relief Funds to Be
Made Good by Cash From
Works Bill.

With work still progressing on
$2,000,000 low-rent housing develop
ment for colored families in Southwest
Washington, 1t was learned definitely
today that the Public Works Admins
tration is about to gain title to addi-
tional land for a project for white
persons on an even larger scale.
This second project is to be located
in the outskirts of the Northeast sec
ton, but series of complications, now
about to be unravelled, has held up
any official announcement by Secre-
tary Ickes.
The Housing Division of p w. J..
is prepared to spend considera...
more than s4,000,000 in WashingtoI
to carry out its plans to proviG
modern, comfortable and lov-pricC
homes for about 1900 families. Ma
of these now are on the relief rol.
and others are definitely in the undo.
privileged class.
S4,0UU,UUU fIfSk EaImdIke0s
When the Housing Division was Or
ganized S4,300,000 was earmarked fer
white and colored projects in Wash
ington. These funds, with other un-
obligated P. w. A. funds, were In
pounded by President Roosevelt for
relief purposes Secretary Ickes. how
ever, expects to be completely reim-
burSed when the s4,880 600, 1000 work
relief fund is appropriated. so money
will be available for the Washington
projects long before payments az
necessary.
Housing division officials are main
tanning close secrecy over the exact
site Of the projects in both sections OF
the city. The project in the South
west, located near the water front, has
more of the aspects of slum clearance
than the site chosen for the new eX-
pertinent in housing in the Northeast.
After more than a year Of negotia-
tions, bargaining and revision Of plans.
work is expected to begin on both
housing projects during the Summer.
The plans for the white project in
| the Northeast are considerably more
| advanced than the other. While the
colored project has been the subject OF
much public speculation in recent
months, few persons were aware plans
had recently eliminated for similar
project for white persons.
Options to Be Closed Soon.
Unless unforeseen difficulties arise,
housing officials may be in position
this week or next week to close the
options the Government holds on the
Northeast site.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
owns an easement which runs through
the selected site. While the easement
dates back many years the railroad
company had apparently forgotten
about it until plans for the housing
| project were proposed. This has been
only one of a number of complications
that has held up progress. but 1t as
understood the railroad has now con-
sented to sell its rights.
When work develops on these two
projects, Washingtons model low-rent
housing program will rival in size and
in cost the initial projects Of the Gov
ernment in such cities as Atlanta,
Cleveland and Indianapolis.
The Washington projects will differ
from those, however, since it is ex-
pected that they will consist of model
family dwellings instead Of apart
ment buildings.
S. a Room Rent Low.
While no details Of the project for
white families could be learned def
initely, present plans call for small
sized detached houses with small plots
of ground AS in all the Federal
housing projects, the rents would be
as low as SIS a room. Title to the
houses would remain with the Gov
ernment until the prospective owners
make the last payment, the amortiza-
ton period usually extending So to 40
years.
As in the case of the Northeast
project, difficulties have surmounted
the colored development in the
Southwest. Several or more sites
have been chosen and abandoned
during the past year owing to the
rocketing of prices. A final choice
has been made, however. and the
work of obtaining options is progress
ing satisfactorily.
This project has been estimated
from 100000 to about $4,000, 900,
according to the various sites with
which the Government had been in
negotiation. 1t will provide living
units for some 600 persons.