Evening star., 1942-11-21
Planners Study
Question Of
Raid Shelters
Undertake Study
While Coneeding
Prohibitive Costs

Experts of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission ex-
pressed the opinion today that
long-range study Of air raid protec-
ton for Washington should include
plans for the construction of shell
tiers, although they admitted that
the cost would be prohibitive.
Regardless of the cost factor, the
commission is assembling statistical
data leading up to the possible
construction of shelters and also
reported that it is cooperating
with District officials in study
ing plans for outlying areas which
are not now adequately protect
ed. 1t was agreed that it would
take at least three months to COM
plete a study of all requirements.
Planning officials feel there Is
little to be feared from air raids on
Washington, but because nothing
is certain in war they are inclined
to explore all the possibilities of
shelters.
Population Guide for Areas.
Their study. it was disclosed, in
wolves the preparation of maps Civ
ing picture of Washington's pop
ulation centers. The congeSted
central areas with more than so
persons to an acre are set aside for
one study. Other studies involve
population areas of 20 to so persons
per acre and areas of less than 20
persons to an acre of land
Another map is being prepared
designating areas where single resi-
dences, row houses and apartment
houses predominant.
The Districts air raid shelter sec
tlon, which is working with the Park
and Planning Commission on the se-
lection of sites based on the popula-
ton surveys, has had plans for
splinter-proof concrete shelter for
some time. The plans have been
laid away because the War Depart
ment has informed the District the
hazard at the present time is not
great enough for protection con-
struction. In addition, the War
Production Board has ruled that no
critical materials can be allowed for
shelter at this time.
Stress Importance of Early Study.
An official of the shelter survey
section explained that when the
need comes it may come in such a
hurry that there would be no time
then for a survey of sites.
The commission also is interested
in another phase of the situation.
Pointing out that District officials
had selected 900 buildings for use as
raid shelters, they claimed that the
owners of only about 300 of these
buildings had agreed to let their
property be used for such purposes,
Planning officials are cooperating
in study of the remaining 600
buildings to see how many owners
can be bought into the shelter pro-
gram.
Before adjourning its November
meeting yesterday. the commission
initiated a new housing study to de-
termine what can be done in certain
areas to promote private residential
construction.
Need Held to Be Great.
A preliminary survey of such
areas is under way. The need is
great, it was said, because of the
stop order placed by the War Pro-
duction Board on critical materials
that has about banned new resi-
Dental construction here.
There are certain areas, it was felt,
where new construction could be
started without conflicting with
such orders involving non critical
materials. All areas under study
are within convenient distances
from Government employment CEN
ters
The commission disclosed that the
Alley Dwelling Authority has 1000
emergency and permanent units for
war workers that should be COM
i pleted and ready for occupancy by
; July /, 1943. Of the number 800
are permanent housing units un-
dertaken before the start of the war,
The remaining 5000 are temporary
demountable units, many of which
are now actually under construc-
tion.
Plans of the ADA to utilize sites
along the Fort drive for housing
projects were approved and the COM
mission also studied a map show
Ing areas in which it recommended
that existing houses be converted
into living units for war workers.