Evening star., 1939-06-30
First low.Rent
Housing Project
10 Start in July
A. D. A. to Advertise
For Bids for 300
Homes in Southeast

Construction Of the first of seven
low-rent housing projects now being
planned by the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority in Washington is likely to
start soon after July n when bids
will be opened for approximately 300
homes in the Benning area near
Fort Dupont Park. They will be
built for white families of low
income.
The site is a wooded, rolling area
of about 80 acres located at the
intersection Of Ridge road and Ana
costa road Sc, and lies just south
Of the projected line of East Capitol
street beyond the Anacostia River.
1t was purchased from the United
States Housing Authority which has
just transferred title to the A. D. A.
s1.oOo.0oo Project.
Development of the site will be
done at an estimated cost of $l,OOO,-
600, the local agency having en-
tered into a 80 per cent loan contract
with the U. s. H. A. which has ear
marked $4,000 900 for the develop
ment Of housing projects in the Dis
trict. John Ihlder. executive oflicer
Of the A. D. A. announced late yes
terday his intention OF advertising
Immediately for bids.
Plans for the development were
ordered prepared last January. The
architect and planner is Louis Juste-
ment. At the same time, the A. D. A.
ordered plans perfected for another
project at Alabama avenue and
Twenty-first street Sc. The latter.
however, is not yet ready to be ad-
vertised.
The Ridge road site is of 56 acres.
but only about half OF it is being de-
veloped now. 1t was acquired sew
eral years ago by the Housing Divi-
sion of the P. w. A. Before a prof.
ect could be planned for it a New
York packing firm obtained a permit
to re-erect slaughter house oppo-
site the Benning Bridge, and Secre-
tary Of the Interior Ickes and How
ard A. Gray. then director Of the
Housing Division. vigorously opposed
the renewal of slaughter house op-
erations. AS a result the packing
company allowed the permit to ex-
pire,
Open Type Development.
The proposed construction on the
Ridge road site contemplates an
open type of development suitable
to the rolling character OF the land.
Plans include provision for a man.
agement Office, community building
and play space for small children.
Two-story houses will be erected
with three-story buildings at focal
points. To assure ample space there
will be only 10 to IL dwelling units
per acre. Central heat and hot wa
ter will be provided, as we'll as elec-
tricity and gas. for cooking. The
predominant material will be brick.
The apartments will range in size
from two to five rooms. The one
family dwellings will contain four
and five rooms. Each dwelling will
have a modernly equipped bath
room.
While Mr.. Ihlder did not say what
rent would be charged, it was esti-
mated earlier in the year that the
aim was about 81 per room per
month. This would be lower than
many families are now paying for
substandard dwellings in Washing
tons slum areas.
For purposes of bidding the site
is divided into five parts, so each
contractor can bid on one or more
parts. or on the whole. Representa-
tives OF the U. S. H. A. will be sta
toned at the site during the period
of building. although actual con-
struction will be under the super
vision of the A. D. A. In accordance
with the law, contractors must pay
wage rates,