Evening star., 1945-01-03
ALLEY Home Ban
Seen Put Off for
Another Year
Housing Spokesman
React to Compromise
Plan of McCorron
BY DON S. WARREN.

BY DON S. WARREN.
Spokesman for public and private
housing groups today predicted Con-
yress would find it necessary to delay
.or another year" the July / ban
IN occupancy of Washington's alley
dwellings-which now provide ac-
,ommodations of sort for some
4, 1000 persons.
Their statements came on the
heels Of an announcement late yes
,erday by Senator McCarran, DEM
ocrat, OF Nevada of the general OUT
line OF compromise slum clearance
and rehousing bill he is Offering in
an effort to settle the long contro-
versy between advocates of public
and private low-cost housing work.
New McCarran Plan.
The new McCarran plan, which is
to be laid before Congress as soon as
1t Is organized for legislative work,
authorizes $4,000, 900 for redevelop-
ment OF alley dwelling areas and re-
housing of their occupants; proposes
abolition of the National Capital
Housing Authority and the estab-
lishment of new District housing
agency; and while giving private
developers "fair opportunity to do
low-cost work, provides for public
housing" where private developers
fail.
The present deadline on use of
alley dwellings will be reached July
l. Under the original alley dwelling
law, such use was to have become
illegal, under heavy fines. by last
July /. Because other housing had
not been provided for alley dwellers
Congress last session ordered a years
delay.
Again, because it will be "impos-
sible" to provide new housing for so
large a sector of Washington's pop
ulation between now and next July
/. another years delay will be essen
tlal, according to James c. Wilkes,
counsel to the Metropolitan Home
Builders Association, principal
opponent of public housing"
Similar View Expressed.
A similar view was expressed con-
currently by key Government off,
cial, who is an advocate of public
housing"
I'VE might as we'll recognize the
situation now" Mr.. Wilkes told The
Star. There is not a ghost of a
chance that new housing can be
provided here for $4,000 persons by
July /, even If within the next 10
days Congress were to pass one or
another of the bills on the future
slum clearance program. And 10
days would be remarkably short
time for Congress to complete action
on such measure
The new McCarran bill would set
up a housing authority to be known
as the District Housing and Rede-
velopment Agency, to replace the
old NCHA. 1t would consist of three
members, one to be the chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, serving ex officio:
a member to be appointed by the
President, who would be agency adj
ministrator and chairman of it's
directors, and third member to be
appointed by the Commissioners, A
salary of $4,000 is proposed for
members, with allowance for pres
ent Government pay of the ex
officio member.
Consent Appointments.
1t was noted here that while all
members of the NCHA hold their
posts by reason of having other
Government jobs, the new bill pro-
poses that the appointments by the
President and Commissioners shall
be by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
Under the McCarran plan, the
Park and Planning, Commission
would draw comprehensive.
plan for development of the Dis
trict, including project areas for
retaining blighted areas. Slum
clearance projects would be for
Warded to the District Commits
sloners and, if they approve after
public hearings, they would 60 back
to the planning body, to be "certi-
fed" to the new redevelopment
agency for action.
The new agency would call for
offers when site was assembled.
If private development corporations
did not bid within the year, then
the new agency Would start to
develop one-third of any one
project area" certified by the Plan
ming Commission. At the same
time it could put the remaining
two-thirds of the area up for auc-
ton. If there were no bidders, the
public agency could perform the
whole project. Emphasis is laid on
the fact that in any case of bidding
by private developers the one buy
ing or leasing would have to &C :e-
nant to carry out the project plan
under the terms laid down by the
agency, including rental limits and
building specifications.
Important Features.
Important proposed features of the
new McCarran plan would restrict
such low-cost housing projects, after
necessary land was dedicated for
streets, Fairgrounds, churches,
schools, stores and the like, to
houses renting for not more than a
certain price-and $40 month is
one suggested limit. Also it is sug-
gested that they be available only
to families having an annual in
come OF a certain figure, and one
suggestion is not more than 81 500 a
year.
Private developers entering into
such programs would be offered at
least tWn adUa nfo uac 1lLo,, ......l :,