Evening star., 1939-10-15
S|um Clearance
Loan Sought for
Two NewSites
A. D. A. Applies for
$1,000, 900 to Build
$50 Dwellings.
By NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.

UIlc S1O,UUu,UUU edIuldTklIlS HldQe 1OT
low-rent housing in the District by
Administrator Nathan Straus of the
United States Housing Authority a
year ago. 1t would also bring the
number of sites under planning
to 10.
Mr.. Ihlder forwarded the appli-
cation of 54 form papers with aerial
views of the various sites under con-
temptation and preliminary archi-
stectural drawings. While these plans
were progressing. it was announced
that building permit for the
Ridge road project in Anacostia
probably would be obtained early
this week from the District Build
ing. The heavily wooded site is al
ready being cleared by the contrac-
tor.
West End Site Revived.
The Alley Dwelling Authority in
formed Mr.. Straus that it may re-
submit former application for a
$2,794, 900 loan for a proposed site
in the west end that had been dis
approved on the score that land
acquisition costs would average more
than the Sl.50 per square foot limi-
tation.
I'VE have reason to believe that
part of this site may soon be &C
quired for public playground and
1--WE shall then resubmit the appli-
cation" Mr.. Ihlder wrote. This site
contains one of the worst slums in
Washington"
On August 16, the A. D. A. adj
vised the Federal agency that it
would be able to use an additional
earmarking of s5,0OO000 to s700O,-
600. Mr.. Ihlder said these earmark-
ings would be sought only as sites
are determined upon. One of the
two sites for which he soon ex-
poets to seek a $4,000, 900 loan is in
a slum area. The other is in prac-
tically vacant land.
Demolition Held Up.
In its application for a third loan
the A. D. A. chose one site that is
occupied III considerable part by a
typical Washington shack COM
munity" Because of the very seri-
Gus shortage of dwellings for colored
tenants, it is not proposed to do
any demolition on this site until
accommodations can be found else
where for the occupants.
This shortage has been accentu-
ated recently by the Federal Gov
ernment's building program. The
Social Security and Railroad Re
tirement Buildings are being erected
on two squares In the Southwest
that necessitated the demolition of
more than 200 private dwellings
The Federal Office Building to
house the Census Bureau will oc-
cupy an adjoining square.
The former dwellings sheltered
an estimated 600 to 300 low-income
Negro families" Mr.. Ihlder said.
"As result of their demolition
there is increased house overcrowd-
ing, condition accentuated by mi
E-ation. The Federal program for
building contemplates further DEM
.olition of slum dwellings occupied
by Negroes. The work of the Alley
Dwelling Authority offers almost the
only promise of relieving this in
creasing housing shortage.
Displace Groups Slowly.
"We have recognized this .condi-
ton in that part of our program
which deals with slum reclamation
by proposing that such projects as
those on the Navy Yard and Howard
University sites shall be undertaken
IN parts. BY this means only frac-
ton Of the present population will
be displaced at any one time and,
we hope, the dwellings will be avail
' able before the last of the old struc-
lures are razed. Meanwhile, dwell
ings for Negro occupancy should be
erected at the earliest possible
moment"
The foregoing conditions are the
basic reasons why the Alley Dwell
ing Authority at this time is plan
ming only two projects for white
occupancy-on Ridge road and in
Navy place in the Southeast.
- The new projects which the A.
D. A. is planning for immediate de-
velopment will be unique, at least
in Washington's experience. If the
loan is granted-and that is surely
expected-the area will be developed
with the simplest kind of dwellings
in an attempt to introduce minimum
costs.
The dwellings would be amortized
over period of 80 or 40 years. in
stead of 60 years. as provided under
all other contracts.
Frame construction is proposed
In place of the shacks now occupy
ing the tenement site, one-story
dwellings would be erected, contain
ing living room, kitchen, two bed.
rooms and two-fixture bathroom
In advertising for bids. however, the
A. D. A. would specify that con.
struction may be in any materia
that meets the requirements of the
District building code.
Seeks Materials Competition.
'In that way we hope to secure
competition not only among con-
tractors, but also among manufac.
turers of building materials" Mr.
1hlder explained. "This, we hope
will excite the interest of the metals
and cement producers, as well a,
the lumber manufacturers"
The two sites in question are ada
cent and one lies between two i'm.
portant streets that contain city
services. Sewers and water main!
may be readily extended. The othel
lies behind the first and is no
snow easily accessible to those serv'
ices. This is the chief reason -fol
its present unsatisfactory condition
Development of these two sites
Mr.. Ihlder said, would begin thl
reclamation of one of the Districts
shack slIlnns.