Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-09-25

The tert of the letter of trans
mission Which accompanied the ap-
plicdtton OF the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority for funds from the United
States Housing Authority for start
on the Districts lotU-cost housing
program tollotDs. The letter, dd-
dressed to Nathan Strnus, housing
Administrator, IS signed by Melpin
c. Hozen as chairman OF the A. d.
A. and John Ihlder as erecutipe
Officer.
Inclosed find the Alley Dwelling
Authority's application for a loan of
$40, 64,021. This sum will provide for
the acquisition and development Of a
project covering flve sites IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia Supporting data
called for by the United States Housing
Authority application form accompany
this letter.
This application will be followed as
promptly rs possible by an application
for an additional loan that will bring
the project to the proportions indi-
Gated in our request for an earmarking
on June 80.
The application is for a 100 per cent
loan in accordance with the terms of
the United States Housing Act and the
Alley Dwelling Act The District is
not In position to make any con-
siderable contribution other than by
tax emption. There Is, however, full
tax exemption for all properties &C.
quired by the Alley Dwelling Authority
and this makes the Districts contri-
button compare very favorably with
that Of other cities.
Plan Balanced.
The five sites herewith submitted,
all Of which have been studied by
representatives of the United States
Housing Authority. contemplate a
balanced program of slum reclamation
and rehousing. This program takes
account Of conditions throughout the
District, of the activities of other
agencies, public and private, in the
demolition Of unfit dwellings and in
the construction of new dwellings.
The immediate program covering
five sites proposes the erection of ap-
proximately 1906 dwellings, 4S4 for
white occupancy, 1922 for Negro &C.
cupancy. In compensation, 1883 build
ings containing 1923 dwelling units
will be demolished The supplementary
program will bring the number OF
dwellings to be erected to approx
mately 1886. of which 564 will be for
white, 3,27l for Negro occupancy.
Some Of Evidence Contained.
Evidence as to need is contained In
the supporting data. Among the data
submitted are:
Evidence from the real property in
ventory that more than 10000 dwell
ings are unfit or in need of major
repairs.
Evidence that in the central decadent
area, which contains 40 per cent of all
structurally deficient dwellings in the
District. there are l2,47s dwellings
Excluding rooming houses as well &.
hotels and clubs) with a median rental
per dwelling unit of $2666 per month
that in other areas containing slums
there are 9,277 dwellings with q
median rent Of $2s.s5.
Evidence that these areas contribute
out Of all proportion to disease. vice
and crime.
EVIDENCE OF gross overcrowdina
among families of the lowest incomes,
OF occupancy Of UNIT dwellings and
OF rents for these dwellings that range
up to $500 per month, and. in a
few cases. even higher-because other
dwellings were not available.
Seeks Cost Reduction.
Efforts of the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority are being directed primarily
to reduction Of COSTS Determination
OF rents will follow determination of
costs. Construction costs are to be
as far below the legal maxima of ST.
$50 per room and 5000 per dwelling
as 1t is possible to bring them, con-
sistent with good housing standards
and sound construction.
In response to a request last week
by the United States Housing Au-
thority representative. the Alley
Dwelling Authority has sought to
classify the population of the Dis
trict by income groups from $4,000
down in order to indicate the market
for houses Of different rentals. In
this 1t has made use of previous at
tempts and submits the results.
The $4,000 upper classification was
agreed upon As representing roughly
the lowest group now reached, though
inadequately. by private enterprise.
The point was made that there should
not be . no-man's land between pri-
vate housing and public housing.
otherwise large group of low-income
families will be unprovided for. At
the same time it was emphasized by
the Alley Dwelling Authority that
public housing must assure proper
housing for all low-income groups,
down to and including those on relief.
In this, OF course, 1t takes account
OF existing dwellings that meet legal
requirements but which, because past