Evening star., 1938-10-01
ECONOMIES SEEN
NDPLANN|NG
Chief of F.H.A. Section Saws
About 5000 Cases Have
Been Reviewed.

land planning procedure for home
sites. the land planning section Of the
Federal Housing Administration also
has made material dollars and cents
savings for operative builders and SUBJ
division developers: Seward H. Mott,
chief OF the section, said today
Activity Of the land planning sec
ton. Mr.. Mott said, Is playing prom
inent part in the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration's program to improve
building standards and create better
living conditions throughout the coun-
try. In line with other phases of the
program, the work Of the land plan
ming section is also indirectly doing
its share in the establishment OF a
sound mortgage market for the whole
Nation.
Material economies have been made
In planning residential areas through
recommendation to subdivision devel-
opers. he continued Lots have been
better arranged in hundreds of subdi-
visions by revision of plot plans: indi-
vidusl sites have been made more sal
able: general Attractiveness and eff
cheney Of subdivisions have been en-
HANGED, and scores of developers have
learned the desirability of making
their plots conform TO sound planning
principles
Since the inception of the land
planning section" Mr.. Mott said. we
have reviewed approximately 5000
cases, both in the Washington Office
and in the field In approximately
two out of Ave cases submitted to us
We have recommended changes in the
layout which has increased the num-
ber OF salable lots eliminated unnec-
essary roads and decreased construc-
ton costs due TO a careful considera-
ton Of topography.
SO Subdivision Conferences.
"Our review work has also been aug
mented by series of So subdivision
conferences held in the principal cities
In every State in the Union In these
instances We have been able to make
inspections of subdivisions on the ac-
tlal site In every locality where a
meeting has been held we have been
able to give individual consulta tions to
an average of 80 Or 40 developers Of
residential subdivisions.
1T is significant that the bulk of
the work in the land planning section
has been in replanning areas which
have already been partially developed,
rather than in creating new subdivi-
sions. Approximately 80 per cent of
the areas reviewed were already par
tally developed. II they had con-
hnued on the original lines. many
would have eventually deteriorste ted
into bllehted areas or Slums. II such
tendencies were not changed through
sound planning, values would have
quickly declined, with attendant loss
in dollars and cents to owners and de-
velopers.
1T must be understood that the
suggestions and recommendations of
our land planning staff are in no sense
arbitrary, There is a minimum stand
ard. evolved through experience, to
which a subdivision must conform in
order 10 be considered an eligible site
for homes financed under the insured
mortgage system. 1t has been our ex-
per'ence that approximately 10 per
cent Of the tracts submitted to us are
either premature or beyond help as
far as rehabilitation is concerned
However. the constructive service given
on the balance Of cases received by the
land planning section has effected ire
mendous savings in development costs
and greatly increased the stability of
the tracts.
Eliminated Bad Practices.
Our efforts have exerted a strong
influence in virtually all sections of
the country in the elimination of Ger
tain bad practices. Our work strikes
At the root Of bad home building
bad land planning. 1t has been our
aim TO eliminate nuiSances which de-
tract from the marketability of resi-
Dental areas. Our recommendations
have included such ramified details as
rezoning, tearing down unsiehtly
ahacks and other structures; repaint-
ing existing buildings in a neighbor-
hood: Establishment of protective re-
strictions in order to develop intelh-
gent neighborhood control; rearrange-
m~nt Of lots: suggestions which take
advantage Of streams, lakes and
shaded areas. and development of at
tractive approaches and recreation
zones. Safety. INABILITY. rability and
lasting attrsctiveness are only a few
of the factors with which we treat.
and each has an influence in saving
money or making more money for de-
velopers
Over and above the monetary con-
alterations which have been a direct
result OF our work. the ma jor aim has
been TO participate in the crea ton of
higher standard of building through
close attention to the problems that
confront the person desiring a good
home-even before the first brick in
the foundations is laid"
Red White plu. padroo