Evening star., 1944-02-11
.lhIder Asks
buiIdersfor
SIunl Program
Coils on Contractor.
For Definite PIons
To Improve Areas

:
To Improve Areas
=. Members of the Washington Hom
Builders Association who hav
} asked that rebuilding of the District
slum areas be left to private enter
prise today were challenged by Johl
lhlder, executive officer of the Ma
} tional Capital Housing Authority, t,
present definite proposals" for pri
yate construction and management
OF slum reclamation developments.
); Testifying before a Senate Distric
subcommittee, Mr.. Ihlder said tn,
housing authority is ready to com
pare its cost of construction ans
operation with those of privat.
!, builders. He asked, however, that ir
presenting cost figures the privat,
builders also compare their rent.
with those charged by the HOUSING
Authority.
u Later in the hearing, James C
Wilkes outlined the program mem
bers OF the Home Builders Associa-
ton are proposing and promised the
builders will show that they car
construct housing more cheaply than
a public agency.
Clashes Mark Hearing.
Today's hearings were marked by
frequent clashes between Mr.. Ihlde1
and Mr.. Wilkes. Agreeing that the
Districts slumS should be eliminated
they differed over whether private
enterprise or the NCHA should dc
the work. Chairman Burton OF the
subcommittee cautioned at the close
OF today's session that the subcom-
mlttee Is mot interested in contro-
versy between individuals or groups
who may be irritating to one an
other"
The subcommittee is attempting to
find a constructive common sense
solution to the Districts slum prob
lem, he explained, and will be better
able to do this if witnesses "avoid
needing each other"
! Mr.. Ihlder outlined four points In
answer to previous statements made
by members of the Home Builders
Association. He said the NCHA
wanted private builders to do as
muc hof the slum- reclamation work
as they could do profitably without
Government subsidy.
Asks Comparison of Rents.
The private builders have a wide
field opened to them in providine
housing that will rent for more thar
the economic rents charged by the
NCHA and for less than $50 8
month, he maintained.
MIR. 1hlder's third and fourth
points were to ask for comparison
OF rents, and for definite proposals
from the private builders. If the
builders will explain how they pro-
pose to carry on slum reclamation
work, their plans can be used as a
basis for frank, friendly and con-
structive discussion" he added.
Mr.. Wilkes later explained that
the Home Builders proposed for the
Government to acquire title to the
slum areas by condemnation. These
areas would be sold to private enter
prise by competitive bidding, under
terms setting forth the minimum
type OF housing and number of units
to be constructed, and for a time
controlling rents and management
After buying under these terms, pri-
vate builders would redevelop the
former slum areas, Mr.. Wilkes said.
Mr.. Ihlder, questioned by the
committee, roughly outlined the
characterization program proposed
by the NCHA.. Approximately 90.
900 substandard dwellings must be
replaced at an average cost Of about
$4,000 per unit. A minimum time oi
20 years should be allowed for the
program because rehousing this
nurber of persons is major oper.
ation," Mr. Ihlder said.
Would New Slums Develop?
Mr.. Wilkes attacked Mr.. Ihlder';
statement by asking if new slums
caused by the obsolescense of al.
ready aging buildings would no
have come into existence by the END
of this 20-year period, Would yol
then, after 20 years have another
10000 houses that were substand-
ard and needed replacing?" ht
asked.
Mr.. Ihlder said he hoped thi!
would not be the case, because HI
hoped private builders would re.
develop some of the blighted ane
less difficult slum areas and tha
all houses that private enterpris.
builds in the future will be gooe
houses Mr.. Ihlder added that there
probably was "a good deal of Opt
mism in my thinking"
This brought a reply from Mr.
Wilkes, who said one reason pri
vate builders have not reclaimed tn,
slums during the last 10 years j!
that they have lacked the power O
condemnation to acquire title t.
slum property.
i BiIbo Attends Hearing.
Mr.. Wilkes and Mr.. Ihlder ther
engaged in a discussion over wheth.
er the NCHA, since its organization
10 years ago, has invited the CO.
operation of the home builders. II
the verbal exchange Mr. Ihlder la.
beled the Washington Home Build.
ers' Association a small group oI
ideaists which is seeking to increase
its membership"
Mr.. Wilkes countered that mem.
bers of the association have beer
building more than so per cent of al
permanent dwelling units construct.
ed here in recent years.
Chairman Bilbo of the Senate
District Committee, who listed elimi.
nation of the Districts slums as 8
problem that should receive immedi-
ate attention, attended the hearing.
today. The testimony will be re.
sumed Tuesday at 10 am.