Evening star., 1941-09-20
D. +. Area Gets
Defense Home
Priorities
Call on Material
Applies to Houses
Costing Under Sc, 600

Washington and surrounding ter
ritory within reasonable committing
distance" is one of the defense areas
in which priority ratings are to be
made available for materials to be
used in construction of homes for
defense workers costing less than
$4,000 each, 1t was announced here
today.
No definition was given as to how
far reasonable committing distance
might extend, but it was indicated
clearly that nearby communities
such as Arlington and Alexandria in
Virginia and Hyattsville and Silver
Spring in Maryland would be in
cluded.
Edward R. Carr, chairman OF the
Home Builders Committee of the
Washington Real Estate Board.
said he and his committee planned
to study the order and report TO the
board, but expressed the belief that.
if strictly adhered to, the regulation
would not meet the building needs
of the area because OF the per
capita earning power of the aver
age Washingtonlan.
He pointed out that those par
ticularly hard hit by the ruling
would be those builders Of high
priced homes who have already
bought ground and will not be able
to develop.
To the extent that the ruling
will establish priorities in the So
900 class, however, Mr.. Carr said 1t
was helpful.
Many of us were uncertain
whether We would be able to get
materials to build at ALL he OBJ
served.
The preference rating order, issued
by Donald M. Nelson, director OF
priorities, becomes effective Monday,
and is expected TO provide assist
ance for construction of 100000 resi-
dences, tWo-thirds of them privately
financed. None Of the houses COW
cred in the plan may rent for more
| than $50 a month.
Several Priority Ratings.
Applications for ratings must be
filed by private builders with local
Offices of the Federal Housing Ad-
ministration. and issuance of ratings
will be made by the o. P. M. on
recommendation of the Defense
Housing co-ordinator's office.
Highest ratings are to be given
for projects that were under con-
struction September l and for re-
modelling and rehabilitation-all, Of
course, providing living accommoda-
tions are created for defense
workers,
Lower ratings will be granted for
new homes to be rented, and still
lower ratings for new houses to be
offered for sale.
The priority assistance may be
obtained to get quickened deliveries
of only specified items and only in
quantities authorized by priorities
officials.
The list of materials included not
only such metals as copper. steel,
/ iron and zinc, but also manufac-
tured products such as lighting fix
/ lures, meters, water softeners, radl-
ators and thermostatS.
1t included also ranges, refrigera-
tors and oil, gas and coal burners.
but it specified that no preference
would be given to oil burners in the
Eastern Seaboard area, where
efforts are being made to conserve
oil because of a transportation
shortage.
Applica tions will not be consid-
cred unless it is demonstrated that
the homes involved are designed for
and will be made available to de-
fense workers; that rentals will be
within their reach $50 a month or
UNDER and at locations convenient
to their employment.
$500 Ceiling Had Been Asked.
Earlier this month the committee
on prices, prioritieS and substitute
materials of the Home Builders In
stitute of America asked Mr.. Nelson
! to set up priority regulations because
the present uncertainty as to the
whole subject of priorities is delay
ing the building of needed homes in
! defense areas
The builders asked, however, that
the ceiling be fixed at $500 homes
based on building costs of Septem-
ber l, 1941, with provision for eStab-
fishing maXimums for different COM
munitieS. They desired these maxi
NUNS to be in conformity with
varying local costs and subject to
change in accordance with general
/ increases or decreases in such costs.
Reasonable committing distance"
is suggested by the builders to be as
much as 80 miles in some communi-
ties.
Non-Defense Field Hit.
Defense authorities said there was
little doubt but that the effect of
the order would be to make it more
difficult for non-defense builders to
obtain scarce materials.
Shortages of critical metals, due
to diversions to defense production,
have affected operations in virtu-
ally all building fields. (This will
be discussed in detail in a story
that will be published in tomorrows
Starr
Localities in neighboring States
designated as defense areas are:
Maryland-Aberdeen, Annapolis.
Baltimore, Elkton and HagerstoWn.
Virginia - DahlCren, Newport
News, Norfolk Portsmouth. Peters,
burg Hopewell, Pulaski Dublin
Radford.
The basic plan for defense hous-
ing priorities was drawn up more
than three months ago by Defense
Housing Co-ordinator Charles F.
Palmer and o. P. NJ prioritieS Off
cials, but it was held up because of