Evening star., 1941-09-20
Postwar Program
For Building Industry
Asks Many Reforms
Lower Erection Costs,
Deflution of Unreal
Land Values Included

A seven-point program for build
ine's part in the postwar world is
presented by the September issue
of Architectural Forum magazine
In the form Of the first of a series
of articles on the general subject,
Buildings Postwar Pattern"
Assisted by panel of 200 advisers
consisting of architects, engineers,
public officials. contractors, home
developers, manufacturers, city
planners. representatives of realty
firms and financial institutions, and
building materials dealers. this first
article proposes immediate and
simultaneous action by the build
Ing industry on these fronts:
|. New construction: Lower ma
terial costs, more efficient tech
niques. lower labor costs but at the
same time greater employment and
higher annual wages, and lower con-
struction costs and rents.
2. Taxes: Taxation for municipal
services rendered. based on income
actually realized: reduction through
increased efficiency Of the public
plant
House Cleaning" in Building.
3 Building industry: Integration,
house cleaning, bigger business.
4 Elimination of restraints: Uni
form building codes, cessation of
racketeering and colIusion.
), Planning. Coordination of
planning activity of local, regional
and national agencies; realistic re-
z0ning in line with anticipated pop
hation trends; establishment of a
national office of Planning Man.
aeement': expansion of existing
planning facilities.
6. Blight cure: Control of deCen-
tralization, urban reconstruction,
expansion of public recreational
facilities, provision for adequate
parking areas, Improvement and
integration of transport facilities.
7. Land Increased public owner
ship, reClaSSifiCation of use, defa-
ton Of unreal valuations, and con-
troll of usage.
Would Correct Past Mistakes.
The Architectural Forum declares
that adherence to this program will
enable building to attain the fol-
lowing objectives:
"As for the past, buildings post
war pattern aims at the correction
of mistakes already made-at least
insofar as remedy is physically
possible and economically plausible.
For the present it defines build
ing'S role in the achievement of the
more abundant life-marked i'm
provement in the appearance and
efficiency of the Nation, its regions,
States, counties, municipalities and
rural areas. betterment Of the en-
vironment of all United States citi-
zens, at work, at play. at home;
widening Of the opportunity for
private enterprise to develop ma
tional resources to the fullest extent
and at fair profit.
For the future, buildings post
war pattern contemplates the laying
of A firm foundation for progress
flexible enough for all contingent
cieS.'
Taking up the planning program
IN the first article, the Architectural
Forum magazine states:
Postwar U. S. must work to a
plan-a plan broad enough to in
clude the Nation, minute enough to
cover all its political subdivisions,
bold enough to inspire respect and
realistic enough to produce action.
Even in these peaceless times there
Is a growing realization of this
fundamental postwar need.
planning Stripped of VoOdOo."
"Unfortunately the term plan
ming suffers from much abuse. To