Evening star., 1938-11-29

ored families, two for whites.
The fifth project, planned for COL
cred families, was eliminated from
the initial program chiefly because
it was believed the land would cost
more than the $3.50 per square foot
limitation placed by the U. S. H. A
on land acquisitions throughout the
country. BY concentrating on the
four projects which could be more
easily acquired, the program will get
away to quicker start.
Two of the sites selected are in
outlying sections of the city, one in
the Northeast, the other in the
Southeast on unbuilt tracts The
other two are slum sites in the
Southwest section.
Since none of the land can be pur-
chased until the loan is turned over
to the A. D. A., an agreement was
eXacted not to disclose the individual
locations. In the event that the cost
of the real estate is advanced beyond
point that the A. D. A. regards as
reasonable. 1t was said there are al
ternate sites which can be acquired.
This is the usual form of protection
that the A. D. A. holds up its sleeve.
1t may be announced, however, that
the site in the Northeast is on a
tract purchased by the Public Works
Administrations Housing Division
several years ago. 1t is in the vicin-
ity of Benning and Anacostia roads,
and is cut through by Ridge road.
Title to the land was transferred to
the U. S. H. A., which will deed it
over in turn to the Alley Dwelling
Authority for perhaps a considera-
ton.
Each of the sites in question is
easily accessible to centers of en-
ployment, with public transportation
facilities available at single fares
OF 10 cents per ride, tokens or Sl.25
for weekly pass.
The A. D. A. gained another con-
cesslon by not centering it's pro-
gram on one or two huge projects.
Different types of dwellings will
be provided in the four projects,
dependent upon their locations
In this way the projects will be
built to fit into the neighborhoods
and avoid the institutional appear
ance attached to large develop
ments similar to Langston Courts
on Benning road.
Officials predicted today that be-
sides being a long step toward the
elimination of deplorable housing
conditions in the slum areas Sc
lected the program will provide a
healthy stimulus to economic and
employment conditions in Wash
ington and its vicinity.
Union Scale for 1,5O0.
1t was estimated employment will
be given during construction to
more than 1900 men at prevailing
Wages-Which means the union
scale as predetermined by the La
Dor Department. Officials estimated
the four projects would create about
1892 900 man hours of direct labor
on the sites and 2,538,000 man hours
of labor off the sites for fabricating
materials and other activities di-
rectly related to the project.
The number of dwelling units per
site and the costs of developments
was announced as follows: No.
site, $1,571 900 for 282 units; No. 2
site, $1,511,OOO for 246 units; No. 3
site, S2,610,000 for 428 units, and
No. 4 site, $1,644,000 for 301 units.
The average estimated construc-
ton cost of dwellings per family
unit was given as s3,292.
The average shelter rental of 81 a
room per month is exclusive of the
charge for gas, electricity and heat.
These charges would add about 81
The rentals are on par
with those charged in other U. S.
H. A. financed housing projects in
cities of comparable size.
The s6,6Oo,OOO U. S. H. A. loan to
the local agency takes into account
the construction cost of dwellings,
facilities, non-dwelling facilities.
land, architectural and overhead
charges, and is repayable at the
prevailing rate of interest.
Cite Significance of Program.
In a 4,O00-word press release, the
U. S. H. A. reviewed the history of
the struggle for better housing in
the District, declaring that President
approval of the loan for
the Alley Dwelling Authority to ex-
pand its slum reclamation and low
rent housing program marks the
high point of 60-year campaign
to eradicate Washingtons slums."
Until recently" the announce
ment stated, "the Alley Dwelling
Authority battled alone and unaided
against the National Capitals gigan-
tic slum octopus, and, though re-
stricted in the past to the use of
public funds totaling $685. 900, the
A. D. A. already has completed five
housing projects, in addition to other
slums reclaimed"
The A. D. A., in fact, has rehoused
1873 families and reclaimed a dozen
of the city's 176 inhabited alleys.
Giving generous credit where
credit was due, the U. S. H. A. said
that under the liable and active
direction of John 1hlder, well-known
on housing and city plan
ming" the A. D. A. in 1884 had
launched "the first real offensive
against the blight, despair and dis
ease of the Capitals slums.'
These efforts were followed by the
P. w. A. Housing Division last year
in building Langston, a 274-dwell-
ing-unit project, where colored
families are now paying rentals
averaging $745 a room per month.
$4,000, 900 Originally Requested.
Today's announcement of loan
contract ends direct and continuous
and conferences be-
tween the two agencies since the
A. D. A. on June 80 requested its
first earmarking from the U. S. H. A.
Within "a hours Administrator
Straus set aside $15,000,G00