Evening star., 1944-03-20
Urges
OF S|um Work
Senate Witness
Fuvors Wait Until
Normal Times

Slum reclamation here should be
postponed until after the war. when
a survey can be made to determine
how much low-cost housing is need
ed under normal conditions" Pres
ton E. Wire, private builder, today
told the Senate subcommittee in
vestigating the Districts housing
problems
Mr.. Wire said this would be
cheaper, surer and better for all
concerned" His views were in con-
trast to those public housing advo-
Gates who have urged that funds be
appropriated now so that slum
reclamation can begin as soon as
critical building materials can be
spared from the war effort. Previous
testimony from private builders also
has been based on the assumption
that work should start as soon as
materials are available.
The appropriation of additional
funds at this time to rehouse the
needy families during the war period,
Mr.. Wire contended, would "necessi-
tate the payment of excessive prices
for inferior and substitute mate
rails and also increase the building
cost, due to shortage of labor"
Opposes Rent Subsidies.
Mr.. Wire Endorsed the slum
reclamation program as generally
outlined" by the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations. Instead of rent
subsidies, needy families should be
given direct relief through a prop
erly representative local welfare
board Mr.. Wire said.
The federation's plan for slum
reclamation would call for private
builders to construct all the new
low-cost housing that would be
needed to replace existing slum
dwellings. Mr.. Wire, who said he
has built and now operates about
TOO units for colored families in
Northeast Washington, expressed
to build his share of the
necessary dwellings. He said he has
purchased land and is ready to con-
struct 900 additional units for COL
ored families when critical materials
and labor can be released from the
war effort.
Attacking the National Capital
Housing Authority, Mr.. Wire drew
a detailed comparison between the
NCHA's 115-unit Parkside Dwell
ings and 104-unit development he
has constructed near Eighteenth
street and Benning road NV.
Although the two developments
were built under comparable condi-
tions, the private project cost 81 per
cent a room less than Parkside, his
figures showed. He added that his
project was better constructed.
Chargss Waste of Ground.
Rents charged at his housing de-
velopment, Mr.. Wire said, average
s12.35 per room. After deductions
for taxes the balance for all expenses
and profit is only $3.50 per room,
which is about equal to the rental
scale of the subsidized housing at
Parkside, he contended. He added
he has never received any Govern
men aid in financing.
Mr.. Wire charged the NCHA with
having wasted usable building sites
in locating the buildings on its Park
side development He could have
placed more dwellings on the same
land without overcrowding, he con-
tended.
Mr.. Wire also told the subcommit-
tee that the NCHA spends too much
time in buying land and construct
ing dwellings. The Parkside project
took a total of almost four years to
complete, while land purchase and
for his development was
completed in less than one year, he
said.
Chairman Burton of the subcom-
mitee announced there will be no
hearings tomorrow, but that testi-
mony will be resumed at 10 am.
Friday.