Evening star., 1940-01-09
A. D. A. Plans
Periodic Checks
On Housing
Report Tells Of
Plans to Seeif
Needs Are Met

Needs Are Met
Declaring there is no doubt but
that "a large proportion" of low
income families here are housed
"in unfit dwellings and under con-
ditions of gross overcrowding," the
Alley Dwelling Authority today told
the President in its annual report
that periodic checkups are to be
made to determine if housing needs
are being met adequately.
The report also disclosed that the
authority's work had expanded
greatly under the development pro-
cedure fostered through the United
States Housing Authority.
The authority went into some de-
tail on the checkup program.
During the last few years" it ex-
planned, there has been a great
volume of residential construction in
and near the District of Columbia
for families in comfortable circum-
stances. But this has not reached,
either directly or indirectly, the
families of low income. So there is
not the slightest question that a
large proportion of them are living
in unfit dwellings and under condi-
tions of gross overcrowding.
Survey to Initiate Policy.
But as the public housing pro-
gram continues, there may arise
question as to whether the need is
being adequately met. AS already
stated, it is the Alley Dwelling Au.
thority's policy to assure an ade-
quate supply of good low-rental
dwellings. If this supply is provided
by private owners the authority is
relieved of responsibility. In order
that there may be no question as to
the adequacy of supply in the future
the authority believes there should
be a periodic stock taking. AS .
beginning of this it proposes a sur
vey of housing conditions among
| families of low income in Wash
ington.
Heretofore, the only information
available as to the number of low
income families, their distribution
as to race and the size of such
| families, came from the tables OF
the real property inventory in which
all field work was performed in JAM
uary, 1884 At best. this is an OUT
dated and incomplete guide for an
agency whose planning must take
into consideration the composition
of low-income families. the number
of families in the various economic
strata generally referred to as low
income" and the present housing
conditions of such families. 1t is
the hope of the authority that such
information can be obtained by its
own staff in specialized study
which will automatically exclude
families whose financial position
would place them above and beyond
the scope of the authority's pro-
gram"
Cites Activity Increase.
In explaining how activities had
increased in the last year. the au-
thority said that from 1885 to 1888
it had prepared architectural plans
and specifications for the construc-
ton of 101 dwellings and SO com.
mercial structures and for the re.
modelling of II additional dwellings.
Under the immediate program un-
dertaken with the assistance of the
U. S. H. A., however. it is proposed
TO design more than 1000 dwellings
with appurtenant non-dwelling
structures, streets and open areas.
The work of the Alley Dwelling
Authority for the next fiscal year
is dependent upon its financial re-
sources" the report said. "At the
present time. there has been ear
marked for its use by the United
States Housing Authority the sum
of $l5,000000. OF this amount,
Sl0,858 900 is under loan contract.
The Alley Dwelling Authority pro-
poses with the sum under contract
to reclaim five slum areas and to
develop two vacant land areas, the
latter to provide for the surplus
population due to operations in the
slums. The completion of these
projects will extend into the fiscal
year l941. Meanwhile. the authority
plans to initiate additional projects
that will utilize the remainder OF
the earmarking. If other funds are
made available they can be utilized.
as the immediate program is only
beginning of what should be done"
A tabulation appended to the re-
port showed that in the Is alley
areas where developments were un-
dertaken under the Alley Dwelling
Act 205 dwelling units were demol-
ished. The land cost $376,70 which
was 1924 per cent of the assessed
value of $685. OLA. giving the prop
erty a value of S1.38 square foot.
Would Build z,244 Units.
Under the U. S. H. A. program,
it is proposed to wipe out l ,208 dwell
ing units and build 2244.
AS of June 80 last there had been
seven commercial and five housing
projects completed under the alley
law, at a total cost slightly IN ex-
cess of s801 900.
The policy that has guided the
authority in the alley cleanup is
summed up, as follows:
| having mao experience dS 70 tIlo
cost Of slums. 1t is obvious that the
authority, in building new dwell
ings, must set standards which will
assure that these new dwellings will
not become new slums. but will con.
tinue to be assets for the whole Pc
riod during which they are being
amortized. The erection of mere
sanitary shelters would simply
start the slum cycle once more.
"At the same time the authority
has practiced the utmost economy.
It's low-rent dwellings are simply
but attractively designed and con-
structed Of inexpensive, durable ma
terialS,"