Evening star., 1939-12-27
Third A. D. A.
Contract for 1913
Units Approved
$1,366,000 Low-Rent
Northeast Dwellings
Approved
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.

program moved ahead again today
when Administrator Nathan Straus
of the United States Housing Au-
thority announced presidential ap-
proval of third loan contract with
the Alley Dwelling Authority for a
81 l,366,O0O project of 298 dwelling
units.
A short while before the addi-
tional contract was made public,
the A. D. A. had advertised for bids
on its Navy place project in the
southeast section, where it is getting
ready to erect 203 dwellings for
white occupancy at cost of around
s723 900.
The newest contract brings to q
total of eight projects for slum clear
ance and rehousing in Washington
which are progressing in various
stages. 1t was learned the A. D. A.
is preparing to advertise for con-
struction bids on two more of these
at an early date. Excluding the 274
family units in the Langston Courts
development on Benning road,
which was built by the P. w. A., the
eight projects now being planned
will provide accommodations for ap-
proximately 2,426 families in the
lowest income brackets. The project
approved today is for colored oc-
cupancy.
Building Under Way at Two Sites.
Despite difficulties encountered at
the start of the program two sites
are now under actual construction.
Considerable headway is being made
at the Ridge road site, in another
Southeast section, while on the site
of Navy place 10 dwellings ard 4
stores were demolished in ridding
the city of its largest inhabited
dwelling.
The new project for the A. D. A.
was the largest included in list
| of contracts totaling S47947, 900
awarded to "a local housing authori-
ties.
When the u S. H. A. program
was first launched an earmarking
of Sl5,0OO,0OO was made for hous-
ing in the District. OF this amount
there now remains outstanding
s1,771 900 for new projects. The
two earlier contracts with the local
authority accounted for $10,858, 900,
sufficient to erect 2,128 dwelling
units.
The contracts provide for loans of
80 per cent of the total development
COST The remainder is put up by
the local authority in the way Of
tax exemptions and cash. AS a
consequence the contract approved
today provides for loan of 81 ,229,-
900 from the U. S. H. A., which will
extend for period of not more than
60 years. The Federal agency also
will make an annual contribution
toward reducing the rentals.
Another Earmarking Probable.
Provided the U. S. H. A. obtains
funds for another general program
from Congress this winter, 1t is al
together probable that the Alley
Dwelling Authority will be given an
additional earmarking. John Ihlder,
executive officer IN charge of the
local program, has said another s10,-
000,0 900 or so could be, easily abb
sorbed.
The Senate approved bill at the
last session which would double the
U. S. H. AS $80O,0O0,O00 borrowing
limit. 1t will be before the House
next month. Included in the Senate
bill is provision earmarking $780,
5000 for rural housing and in an
ticipation of House approval the
agency is preparing to launch five
rural programs in Lee County, Miss;
Thomas County, Ga; one in South
Carolina. and one each in Illinois
or Indiana, and Arkansas.
Washington's latest project is to
be located on vacant site in the
far Northeast section. It is large
area occupied by only two or three
| houses.
The new project will consist Of
two-story row houses of several
rooms each. There will be a sep
arate community house for the resi-
dent families and the landscaping
will be kept up by the tenants.
Ample space will be provided, Of
course, for play facilities.
The Alley Dwelling Authority to-
day advertised for bids on its Navy
place project in Southeast Washing
ton where it proposes to erect 203
dwellings for occupancy by white
families at a cost of about $723, 900.
The project is the site of a former
inhabited alley in the square
bounded by Sixth and Seventh, G
and streets, where 10 dwellings and
four stores have been demolished.
It is planned as the first of the
actual slum reclamation projects
under the U. S. H. A.-financed low
rent housing program.
Exempted from the demolition
were the houses fronting on G street
because they are of higher grade
than most of the others. An apart
ment house on Sixth street also was
left standing because of its good
condition It will be remodeled.
Two business properties, whose ac-
QUESTION would have added too much
to the cost of the project, also were
untouched.
1t is expected a contract for the
Navy place dwellings will be
awarded within a month. Forty
seven Of the new dwellings will be
two-story, one family row houses Of
four or five rooms and bath. The
others will be two and three story
apartments ranging from two to five
rooms, each with bath. Central
heat and hot water will be provided.
All the buildings will be brick.
R IA HoIo~nn Aande