Evening star., 1942-12-26
Dealers Express Mixed Views 43 Building Prospects

new CONSTRUCTION
Booms Here in AZ
| Despite Obstacles
Four representatives of the real
estate and building industry here
today gave mixed views on the out
look for construction in the Wash
| ington area for next year. Each
balanced off this years progress
against probabilities for the next Il
months with general agreement
that the Metropolitan Area has had
a good period of new private con-
struction though handicapped by
Government priorities on materials
In addition, it is pointed out, Fed
eral construction in the Washington
area has reached large proportions
this year which has taxed the labor
supply to the limit. Though much
of the United States building is of q
temporary nature, many of the prof.
ects completed this year and those
expected to be finished shortly are
of permanent nature.
] Permanent Projects.
, Among the permanent projects
are slum clearance, housing develop
ments and new Federal office
buildings.
The commentators include Leon
Chatelain. jr., president of the
Washington Building Congress
Claud Livingston, president of the
Washington Real Estate Board
Rufus Lusk, Washington representa-
tive of the National Home Builders
Association of the District, and
Frank W. Cortright, executive secre-
tary of the National Association of
Home Builders.
Their statements follow:
Mr.. Chatelain-"Even with the
Government restrictions placed on
the building industry during the last
year. the industry generally enjoyed
one Of its most prosperous years
While private building was placed
under strict regulations that such
work has come to a virtual stand
still, the Government building pro-
gram has increased at a phenominal
rate. This has created balance in
the building industry so that while
few firms have suffered, many
have enjoyed very prosperous year
THE smaller builders and SUBJ
contractors who have specialized in
residential and private work have
practically been forced out of busi-
ness. Many operative builders who
were in the process of developing
subdivisions or real estate develop
ments have likewise been forced to
stop their work. The large firms
who have been fortunate enough to
secure Government contracts have
been forced to enlarge their organ
izations to take care of their tre-
mendous increase in business
The supply dealers who furnish
material for building construction
have had a difficult job keeping up
with the constantly increasing de-
mand for materials in connection
with the Government building pro-
gram and shortage has occurred
even in the materials which were
not on the critical list. Building
materials made of the metals needed
for war materials have been held ur
| for many months in some cases
which in turn has impeded the Gov
ernment's building program.
Prospects Not Bright.
The building industry's prospect
for 1943 is not so bright. It is esti-
mated that the Government will
curtail its building plans to about
SO per cent of it's past program
The private building work will come
to virtual standstill except fol
maintenance and emergency work
The vital war industries producing
munitions and fighting materials fol
our Army and Navy must come first
of course, and because the building
industry uses the same types o1
metal we cannot expect to continue
building at the same rate of the
past With the increased scarcity OF
building materials. especially lum-
ber, metal work and piping, there
is very little pospect of any work
except the most essential to the
war needs.
| ''Washington's building program in
the past has kept pace with the
expansion of the Government. How
ever, it is felt that If more buildings
are needed for additional war work
ers additional departments and
bureaus will be moved to other
cities rather than constructing new
buildings in Washington requiring
essential war materials.
1913 should see many of the
/, smaller builders and subcontractors
particularly those specializing ir
residential work. being forced tt
close their businesses. The smaller
firms which specialize in mainte.
/ nance and jobbing work should b,
able to continue at their presen
rate. Subcontractors whose worl
does not require essential war ma
terials, such as painters and plas'
terers, will undoubtedly enjoy pros
perity. Until the victory is won, W.
cannot look forward to any upswint
in private building work.
Make Post War Plans Now.
I'm order that there shall not b.
lag of many months between thu
cessation of hoStilities and the be.
ginning of peacetime pursuits. 1t l.
important that plans be made nov
for structures to be built imme'
diately after the war. The genera
public often does not realize hov