Evening star., 1938-05-11
Housing
Continued From First Page

Act, Mr. Straus pointed out today
it is necessary for locally created hous-
ing authorities to initiate building
programs. In the case of Washing
ton, the local agency under proposed
amendments, will be the A. D. A.
which was created under a separate
act of Congress about three years ago
| 1t was expected Mr.. Ihlder and Mr.
Straus will get together in few days
| the A. D. A. might participate in the
| Federal financing. Under an arrange
ment by which loW-rent housing and
| alley clearance can go hand in hand
it was believed little time will be
lost in getting the necessary legisla-
ton in the hands of the Senate and
House District Committees.
With assurances that he will have
$2,000,000 instead of $l,0O0,00O with
which to operate under strictly A. D.
A. policy. Mr.. Ihlder has mapped out
before him enough work to keep his
agency busy for a long while. A sur
vey of Washington indicates there are
176 squares in the city containing in
habitated alleys which fall within the
scope and powers of the alley dwelling
law.
Into these alleys the A. D. A. can
move with more facility than its former
limited funds permitted. The policy
would continue to be the same. Alleys
in which it is not desirable to build
peuy bo,cac would Lo coruortad To ron, :
mercial usages, such as garages and
parking lots Other sites are adapt
able to new homes.
For every new house built under the
United States Housing Act a slum
dwelling eventually must be eliminated.
If 1000 or more new dwellings are
constructed here under the proposed
low-rent housing program which pro-
vides for subsidizing the rents to bring
them to social level" an equivalent
number of slum units would be demol-
ished or renovated. For such work the
A. D. A. has proved its ability.
The Board of Directors Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Housing Authorities
at meeting here yesterday pointed
out in set of adopted resolutions that
the groundwork already laid for CO.
operation between the U. S. H. A. and
the local Housing Authorities and
State boards will result in even more
rapid progress than heretofore.
In five months, the directors cited,
the new Federal agency has practi-
cally completed the P. w. A. Housing
Division program of so or more prof.
ects and at the same time has set in
motion its own building program in 66
cities of 10 States. totaling to date
more than s250,0OO,OOO. OF this
amount in excess of $4,000, 900 was
under loan contract to local Housing
Authorities.
After the meeting the directors con-
ferred with Mr.. Straus and members
OF his staff. At this conference, Lang
don Post. president of the federation,
said the Housing Authorities regarded
as dangerous the setting up of an
arbitrary maximum figure for the
service charges which they are per-
mitted to pay cities in lieu of taxes.
On the contrary, resolution sug-
gested a policy of adjusting differences
to meet each local situation.
1t was also pointed out that the
figure of $150 per square foot as the
maximum which the U. S. H. A. would
approve for land purchases would
operate to prevent many authorities
from building in some sites. This is
matter OF major concern to prac-
tically every city, Mr.. Post pointed
out, as it would tend to force building
On vacant land which entails many
extra expenditures upon q city for