Evening star., 1938-07-24
ALLEYDWELL|NC
ARCHITECTS BUSY
OVER 4PROJECTS
Work Is Rushed to Obtain
Loan Contracts Before
September.
QUARTET is ENGAGED
ON preliminary PLANS
Three of Sites Involved Are
1n-Town Slum Areas and
One Is Vacant Tract.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.


Behind the scenes at the Alley
Dwelling Authority, it was disclosed
Yesterday, officials and technicians
are working feverishly on immediate
plans for development of Of the IL
projects proposed in its present pro-
gram to reclaim slum areas in the
city and rehouse some 5000 to 1000
families.
To expedite these initial projects to
obtain loan contracts possibly before
September, John Ihlder, executive Of
f1cer. has engaged the services of four
experienced architects to draw up the
preliminary plans. Three of the sites
involve 1ntown slums, while the othe,
selected for this first phase Of the pro
gram Is Government-owned tract OF
vacant land along Ridge road, in
Anacostia.
The architects engaged are Arthur
Heaton, Louis Justement and Francis
Sullivan. with wide experience in city
planning, and Howard H. Mackev, a
member Of the faculty of Howard
University. Another colored archi-
tect, it was said, may be engaged to
study a large downtown square. Mr..
Justement will work on plans for the
Anacostia site, which was purchased
several years ago by the Housing Di-
vision of the P. W. A., ar the title
Of which was transferred to the newly
created United States Housing Au-
thority
Ihlder Outlines Goal.
Visualizing the proposed l5,0OO,-
goo housing program in Washington
,as a problem involving flexibility in
long-range planning, Mr.. Ihlder yes
terday outlined the immediate goal
as one to provide good living condi-
tions at the least practicable cost
rather than one to provide the most
homes for any stated sum.
The desire of the Authority is
that its projects shall have a stimu-
lating effect upon others engaged in
building the future Of Washington by
illustrating what may be done to
the benefit Of the whole community. u
be said. Its hope is that IS or 40
Years from now, these projects may
be referred to as initiators of better
conditions and as having proved,
under the test of time, continuing
assets to the community"
In his initial instruction to the
architects, Mr.. Ihlder outlined the
underlying policy of the housing pro-
gram for Washington as he views it
in terms Of building economically
and soundly for the future.
mo funds are available for addi-
tional architectural services and none
will be unless the preliminary plans
are accepted by both the A. D. A.
and the U. S. H. A., and loan contracts
are made. The four architects are
willing to gamble" on this and,
therefore. are giving their services
and meeting their own expenses. 1t
is understood, however, that II the
contracts 60 through, they will then
be employed on the basis of an agree
ment recently reached by the Amer
Scan Institute of Architects and the
U. S. H. A.
Other Projects in Fall
Other projects will be taken up in
the fall, Mr.. Ihlder announced, so a
balanced program may be rounded out
Homer j. Smith is the regular
architect for the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority. and he will continue, with
his assistants, to have general super
vision over all plans for the entire
housing program.
Realizing the need for flexible
range Of construction costs. Mr.. Ihldel
gave the architects no definite OBJ.
Jective except the general one of keep
ing the costs as low as practicable
In preliminary discussions with the
u. S. H. A., the allowable" amounts
under the Housing Act for a city the
size Of Washington were pointed out
as $1,000 per room and $1,000 pei
dwelling, exclusive of land But it wa.
stated that the objective of the A. D
A. must be much under that figure
Mr.. Ihlder said $500 room wa.
mentioned as mark to shoot at. But
even that figure, if desired costs come
within 1t cannot be taken as a guidine
rule for all projects, it was explained
since location and environment should
be governing factor in determining
construction costs.
Nor can any site be definitely de.
- ~ermined, Mr.. Ihlder reminded prop.
erty owners until the A. D. A. Is sure
1t can get the property at the price
1t wants.
We have alternative sites up our
sleeve and the program is so planned
as to allow us to shift sites when
prices are found to be unreasonably
high" he said.
Ideas on Cost.
In lnstructing the architects as to
"cost," Mr.. Ihlder reminded that
more than initial or construction cost
Is meant
"shoddy construction may be chear
In more ways than one. but any con-
struction or plan that involves undue
costs OF maintenance. operation or
repairs Is not. from the Authority,s
point Of view, inexpensive. The cost
of'a house Is its cost during its life
time, not merely its cost to the time
Of physical completion. So for this
additional reason, any figure dealin,
with construction costs alone is not
conclusive"
The Authority was represented As
believing there is no real economy In
cramping room sizes or in providing
inadequate out-of-door space.
The projects which the Authority
has in mind for Washington are mo,
self-contained units designed merely
to provide for their own tenants,
such as mere cases In an urbar
desert" he pointed out. but are being
planned as part of the city.
Things to Be Considered.
Among the things to consider ir
planning. Mr.. Ihlder mentioned:
l. Population density. The project
should not be more dense than would
be beneficial to the community II