Evening star., 1944-02-28
GS STATE EDITIOI
Citizens Federation Offers Comparative Data
Assoiling Cost Of NCHA Housing Projects

more than comparable housing de-
velopments by private enterprise.
Scheduled to be presented to the
Senate District subcommittee on
Housing by Joseph H. Deckman,
representing the Federation Of Citi-
zens' Associations, the evidence"
tended to show:
l. That Fort Dupont Dwellings,
Frederick Douglass Dwellings and
Parkside Dwellings, singled out by
Mr.. Deckman as typical of the
NCHA's low-rent permanent hous-
ing, cost 20 to So per cent more per
room than corresponding private
properties. The comparisons were
between Fort Dupont and Green
way Apartments, Frederick Douglas
and Suburban Gardens and Park
side and private housing at $780,
$500 East Capitol street.
2. That private enterprise has
been building attractive permanent
homes and selling them for less
than the 1862 to 81 ,304 per room cost
of the NCHA's temporary war hous-
ing.
Figures Taken From Reports.
Mr.. Deckman said his figures on
NCHA costs were taken from the
Housing Authority's oficial reports,
while those for private developments
were obtained from the builders
themselves. The figures for private
ly built housing included all over
head, he added.
All comparisons were on a "cost
per rental room" basis. In the three
direct comparisons involving the
NCHA's Fort Dupont, Frederick
Douglass and Parkside properties,
Mr.. Deckman explained that rooms
in the comparable private housing
are somewhat larger"
Kitchens and bathrooms also are
better equipped in the private de-
| velopments, he said
The properties matched against
one another by Mr.. Deckman were
built at approximately the same
time. Land costs were included in
the total figures wherever available,
Mr.. Deckman said, but in none of
the three comparisons involving the
NCHA's permanent housing did the
private interests pay more for their
land.
Comparisons Offered.
The statistics given the subcom-
mittee included the following for
Fort Dupont and Greenway:
Fort Dupont-326 two to six room
units for white occupancy completed
by the NCHA in 1910. Brick con-
struction and central heating, but
baths are not tile. Cost, including
land, 81 1854 per room.
Greenway-796 three and four
room apartments for white occu-
pancy. Completed in 1941 by Morris
Cafritz, private builder. Brick
construction, central heating and tile
baths. Cost, including land, s849 a
room.
For Frederick Douglass Dwellings
and Suburban Gardens:
frederick Douglass-313 four to six
room units for colored occupancy,
completed by NCHA in l941. Frame
and masonry construction, no base
ments, baths not tile, equipped with
space heaters instead of central
heating. Cost, excluding land.
81 ,089 a room.
suburban Gardens-204 three tn
five room units for colored oc-
cupancy. Completed in 1s42 by A.
Lloyd Goode, private builder.
Masonry construction, Easements.
central heating and tile baths. Cost.
also excluding land, 1913 a room.
For Parkside Dwellings and the
private development at 3200-3 1900
East Capitol street:
Parkside Dwellings-373 units for
colored families, one to six rooms
completed by NCHA in 1943. Brick.
asbestos siding and frame construc-
tlon, individual heating units, no
easements, baths not tile. Cost. in
cluding land. s1,367 per room.
East Capitol street houses-108
units for white occupancy, three
and one-half to four rooms, COM
pleted IN 1943 by Davy & Murphy,
private builders. Brick construction
easements, control heating. tile
baths. Cost, including land, 1896
per room.
Other Examples Given.
Mr.. Deckmans data showed that
for approximately the same amount
per room as the NCHA spent in con-
structlng Frederick Douglass DWELL
lngs, private builder constructed
Fairfax Village at Alabama avenue
and Suitland road Sc, a far more
luxurious development,
Fairfax Village, for white occ,1-
pancy, offers tile baths, central
heating plants, laundry rooms, and
recreation facilities. The three-storv
buildings are all of fireproof con-
Struction. The cost, including con-
structlon, overhead and the builders
pront, but excluding purchase of
the land or landscaping, was given
by Mr.. Deckman as $1,O12 a. room
me development was completed in
1912 IA
Privately-built Skyland Apart
ments, at Twenty-f fifth street and
Good Hope road Sc, cost onlv
$l,035 room, including land and
a shopping center, Mr.. Deckman's
statistics indicated. Skyland, for
white occupancy, was completed in
1899. 40
While emphasizing comparisons
involving the NCHA's low-rent per-
manent housing, Mr.. Deckman also
gave figures in an effort to prove
the cost OF the agency's temporary
war housing has been excessive.
Further Costs Cited.
He cited costs per room that in
cluded Calvert Houses, 1862; Lilv
Ponds Houses. 1914; Garry Houses.
81 ,080. and Benning Road Houses.
81 ,3N. These figures do not include
price OF the land, he said.
All four developments are de-
molishable or demountable, and are
slated to be removed within one
year after the end of the war
emergency. They were constructed
according to minimum standards"
to conserve critical materials.
! -