Evening star., 1939-09-12
District s S|un1
Program Begun
In Navy Place
House Wreckers
LeveIine Homes
For A. D. A. Units

erection of A. D. A.-financed homes
Is actually under way, it was
learned today, the initial attack by
house wreckers being directed in one
of the worst squares in the South
east, known as Navy place.
Eviction of white and colored
families from the 121 ramshackled
dwellings in this square is being
undertaken "as considerably as pos
sible." the Alley Dwelling Authority
announced I'm no case will a
dwelling be demolished until the
family has found living quarters
elsewhere" Executive Officer John
Ihlder said. For this reason, the
work of demolition is proceeding
gradually.
Navy place is the site selected for
the construction of low-rent hous-
ing project to rehouse about 300
white families. In a comparatively
short time work will start in a
nearby area close to the Washington
Navy Yard for similar project de-
signed for colored occupancy.
1t was estimated there are 176
family dwelling units in Navy place,
Including an apartment house
which is to be reconditioned. Since
two or more families occupy many
of the premises, the actual number
to be disposSessed eventually is not
known. A guess placed the num-
Der around 300.
So far SO dwellings have been
razed and others will be torn down
as their occupants find new quar-
ters. The A. D. A policy in demoli-
tion is to proceed gradually and with
as little publicity as possible in order
to secure the greatest cooperation
and prevent unnecessary hardship
and delay. Mr. Ihlder said.
Navy place is bounded by Sixth
and Seventh streets and G and
streets Sc. H street does not run to
1t, so the area is actually two
squares.
I'VE have acquired all the houses
we need but 26 and will bring con-
demnation proceedings against
these" Mr. Ihlder explained. The
rs have probably been reduced to
20 as an owner, who threatened to
fight condemnation to the Supreme
Court if necessary has decided to
take the money
The A. D. A. had hoped to bal
ance the destruction of homes in
Navy place by building low-rent
dwellings on the site selected at
Alabama avenue and Twenty first
street in the Anacostia section.
This development is being planned
for colored occupancy but has been
delayed beyond expectation.
Complications also have arisen
which have delayed the awarding of
q contract for another development
at Ridge road and Anacostia road
Sc. for white families. There is
no certainty now when the contract
for this project can be awarded.
About 1900 new homes are planned
for the four projects.
Revision Causes Delay.
Mr.. Ihlder explained the Alabama
avenue project had been revised.
That necessitated delay. New
to be planned. and for this reason
long negotiations were conducted
with District officials. It was be-
lieved, however, that the Alabama
avenue contract will be ready to
award soon.
He had planned originally to have
the Alabama avenue houses ready be-
fore the Navy place houses were de-
molished so that families moving to
the Alabama avenue site from the
ter of the city would leave vacan-
cies available for the Navy place
families.
The A. D. A. tries to help the fam
flies in every way possible, it was
said, but many of them prefer to
seek other quarters on their own in
itiative. Another complication al
ways arises in the matter of rents.
Once it is known that an area is to
be cleared, the tenants often refuse
to pay rent and sometimes decline
to leave their homes. To avoid
forceful eviction. the A. D. A. is
going ahead very slowly with its
demolition in Navy place.
Answers Criticism.
Mr.. Ihdler yesterday replied to
criticism by E. F. Harris, president
of the Lincoln Civic Association.
who protested plans to move colored
families from West End triangles,
where the new War Department
Building and the Briggs School will
be built. The association had taken
I'D with the United States Housing
Authority the question of rehousing
those families and was told that the
responsibility rests upon the A.
d. A."
Mr.. Ihlder made it clear he can
not develop a rehousing project
in that section of the Northwest
because the U. S. H. A. will not
approve the acquisition of property
that costs more than $1.50 per
square foot for land and buildings.
No site of sufficient size can be
bought in the west end under that
price, it was said.
1--WE have studied two areas in
your section of the city that seemed
to offer possibilities" Mr.. Ihlder
wrote the association president "and
were reluctantly compelled to give
up hope of utilizing them"
He said, however, that if Mr..
Harris, representing owners, will
present options on suitable low-rent
housing sites, which would comply
with U. S. H. A. conditions, the
"A. D. A. will be greatly appreciative.
Mr.. Ih]der said that in the South
west the Government is clearing
several squares and thereby dis
placing several hundred colored
families. This also is causing us
concern" he added. His letter Of
explanation to the association
president was written August 30.
The displacement of families in
the Southwest, to which Mr.. Ihlder
referred, already has taken place
It involved the destruction of 178