Evening star., 1942-01-23
War Output
Board Backs
Southwest Plan
Park Commission
Chuirmun Adds
His Endorsement
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.

IIIS IIIOOl SCHlSIu
By JAMES Y. NEWTON.
The plan to rehabilitate residen-
tial areas OF Southwest washington
to. relieve the critical war housing
problem has advanced a step in
gaining the support of the War Pro-
duction Board, it was learned today.
Frederick A. Delano. chairman OF
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, also added his
name to the list of officials who have
approved the plan.
Offlcials OF the w. P. B. look
favorably on the proposal since it
is their policy to obtain as much
housing with the use of minimum
amount of critical" materials, it was
pointed out. The Southwest area
already Is served by all utilities and
great savings of vital materials
would be realized in building it up
over development Of new commune
ties in outlying sections where ex-
tension of utility lines would be
necessary. Since large part OF the
rehabilitation plan calls for remod-
cling existing structures, huge guam
titles of building material also would
be saved.
Legislation Promised.
It is understood board housing
officials already have conferred
with Defense Housing -Ordinator
Charles F. Palmer, who is studying
the plan for possible inclusion in
Washington's public war housing
program. Legislation to carry out
the program is promised in few
days.
The Southwest plan, calling for
expenditure of about $32 900 900 in
redeveloping IS city blocks to pro-
vide living quarters for $4,000 addi-
tional persons, holds the center OF
the housing stage. Officials have
been comforting on it in many quar-
ters of the Capital. If carried out
1t would convert an older residential
section into an attractive and mod
ern home area for Government
workers. More than 10000 Federal
employees work within 10 blocks OF
Southwest.
Mr.. Delano said the Park and
Planning Commission last year ap-
proved a study of Southwest with
a view to redeveloping it. The idea
was brought before the commission |
by Howard Goodwillie, H. o. L.C.
conservation official, and it assisted
him in preparing the report which
The Star made public last Sunday.
Titled "The Rehabilitation OF
Southwest Washington as a War
Housing Measure" the report shows
in great detail how the Government
could acquire and build up the area.
Briefly, it provides for recondition-
ing of sound structures on block
perimeters and erection Of garden
type apartments on the interiors.
Mr.. Goodwillie included cost OF land
acquisition and cost Of remodeling
and new construction. The study
was devoted to a nine-block sam
pie" area, though its finding are ap-
plicable to all the Southwest.
Property Owner Help Seen.
In addition to providing badly
needed war housing, rehabilitation
projects such as that planned for
southwest, Mr.. Delano pointed out,
would re-establish the well-located,
urban home as a desirable invest
ment. Before 1900, he said, owner
ship of city property was considered
about the best investment possible.
Since then the trend of population
from congested centers to new sub
urban areas has made liability OF
ownership of urban homes.
Mr.. Delano said he was greatly
opposed to erection Of tall apartment
buildings in the southwest area. He
pointed out they would destroy the
view of the Capital from across the
river to the south and west. The
Goodwillie plan to build three story
garden apartments Is heartily in
dorsed by the commission chairman.
He said he always has liked the
central court idea in apartment
design.
In order to prevent wholesale dis
placement of present southwest resi-
dents, Mr.. Delano recommends a
gradual re-development of the area.
He said the plan first could be ex-
tended to the nine blocks which Mr..
Goodwillie studied. When it was
finished or nearly so another large
area would be considered for recon-
struction. No great loss of time
should result from this gradual
rehabilitation Dlan he Dointed ollt