Evening star., 1942-07-17
D. {. Population Gain
And Priorities Keep
Planners Puzzled
Residential Construction
Far Behind Needs of
City of 1900, 900

Inc pTlOTltleS SQueeA6 oll HidIciidA
for private residential construction
and the phenomenal population
growth of the Washington Metro
politan Area since the 1910 Census
were held accountable today for the
principal headaches" OF Federal
planners in trying to estimate fu-
ture community needs of the war
swollen Capital.
Such matters are now engaging
the attention of the National
CAPITAL Park and Planning Com
mission. whose members disclosed
that the approximate total OF 45 ,O0O
permits issued for private residential
units in the Metropolitan Area dur
ing the last two and hall years
Lag lameatably behind actual needk
fNOf that many permits, about 2l.7o0
were issued in Washington.
1t was estimated the population
of the Metropolitan Area had n-
creased from a little more than
500. 900 in 1910 to about 1900 900
now.
Wehrly Submits Report.
Max x. Wehrly, civic planner OF
the commission. made report on
community facilities at yesterdays
commission session, but since the
picture drawn was incomplete. the
group made public only certain
phases pertaining to residential
construction.
Since no official in washington,
from President Roosevelt down the
line. knows when the war will end,
no member of the planning COM
mission ventured prediction OF
Washington's population two or
three years hence But Mr.. Wehrly
reported that if private industry Is
allowed to ''go ahead" and is given
priorities on materials. 1t is reason
able to expect that contraction OF
private residential units would in
crease 40 per cent in the next year
over the record of the last two and
half years.
The commission, however, antici-
pates a tremendous expansion OF
projects such as dormitories, de-
mountable housing and low-rent
dwelling. If this public housing Is
included in the estimates, it was
Mr.. Wehrly's opinion, based on
careful studies, that the number OF
new residential units in the Metro
politan Area would be increased by
100 per cent in the next year. From
that estimate, it would indicate that
public housing may be expected to
take care of about 10 per cent OF the
increase in residential construction.
Southeast Section Growing.
The Southeast section of the city,
especially the Anacostia district,
was represented as an area OF ire
mendous growth" since 1910. The
expansion, estimated at 100 per cent
in the number of building permits
issued, took place chiefly in the area
. north of St. Elizabeth's Hospital.
Second only to the Northwest Sec
ton, approximately 1000 permits
1Or TeSlQeTlJldl uIllIS WClC hooaCu AOA
construction in the Southeast Only
private construction is included In
the figure. The figure compared with
1900 in the Northwest section ano
$500 in the Northeast. The South
west Jagged behind with only SOC
permits.
If the Planning Commission could
accurately forecast the population
of Washington in the next two OF
three years, it would greatly simplify
the problem of planning for new
highways, streets, Fairgrounds anc
recreation centers. It's studies are
tied in closely, also, with those OF
the District Engineer Department
which must estimate the needed
public utilities, such as sewage
lights and water mains.
In the outlying areas the com
mission must cooperate in studies
with the Virginia and Maryland au-
thorities who face the same perplex-
ing problems in view of the unprece-
daoted eypa ocioy, of s,Ihllrhan areas