Evening star., 1946-09-06
IS New Projects
'hayEase Need
For Homes Here
RemodeIed Barracks
Seen as Solution in
Housing 1000 Families

SSeHuS SOIu(IOn III
Housing | 900 Families
With the veterans housing prof.
ect at Portland and South Capitol
streets dedicated and already occu-
pied by II families, the early solu-
tion of the housing difficulties for
nearly 1000 additional families ap-
peared near today.
Officially opened yesterday when
Navy Veteran Charles Julig, jr., un-
locked the door of a new apartment
for his wife and two children, the
south CAPITOL units are the first of
nve District housing projects to be
occupied. BY now, 10 additional
units have been occupied. In all,
the development will house 80 fami-
lies and al are expected to move In
before October /.
After District oficials presided at
yesterdays ceremony, Bernard e.
Losnoaugh deputy executive in
charge OF operations for the Ma
tional CAPITAL Housing Authority.
announced the schedule for the re-
naming four housing projects
called for'them to be completed by
december A total of 952 familie,
Will be housed in the five projects.
The other four projects and the
number OF units are:
Camp Sims, near Alabama ave-
nue. and fifteenth street Sc, 3o4
units.
Blue Plains, 400 units.
Fort Dupont Park, Thirty second
and F streets Sc, so units.
Lily Ponds, SO units.
Remodeled Army barracks are
being used to provide the one, two
and three bedroom apartments.
Date Is Subject to Change.
Mr.. Loshbaugh pointed out, how
ever. the December / date for the
completion of all the projects is
only tentative and is subject to
change" because of the critical
shortages In some building materials
and equipment.
Hope that the housing projects
now would be completed rapid
ly was expressed by Dillon S.
Myer, commissioner of the Federal
Public Housing Authority, who
spoke at the dedication exercises.
He said erection of the temporary
homes had Jagged since the project
was started on June "a, but added
that materials and transportation
shortages were to blame.
He emphasized that the housing
is "purely'a stop-gap measure, Civ
ing the veteran and his family at
least a roof over his head and the
minimum of reasonable living con-
ditions."
Young Cites Need for Housing.
The FPHA commissioner was one
OF four Federal and District gov
ernment omcials who spoke at the
dedication. Engineer Commissioner
Gordon R. Young introduced the
participants and also explained the
background of the dwelling project.
The five projects are being opened
under the joint sponsorship Of
FPHA, the District and the National
Capital Housing Authority on park
land loaned by National Capital
Parks.
Gen. Young termed the settlement
a small but very real contribution
and recognition of the city's re-
IsponsibiHty to the returned fighting
men," He pointed out the dwell
ings do not represent a final solu-
ton to the veterans housing prob
lem and must. under law, be torn
down not later than two years after
declaration of the end OF the war
emergency.
sCol. Waldron E. Leonard, director
of the District Veterans Information
Center. asked patience on the part
of an estimated Is 1000 or 10000 vet
Grams nov waiting for housing in the
District. John Ihlder, executive
officer Of NCHA. which will manage
the dwellings, said the success Of
the project depends upon the CO.
operation of the tenants who will
occupy the units.
Gen. Grant Attends Ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by
Government and military officials
and by tenants selected by NCHA
to be the first to move in. Oflcials
included Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
chairman Of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
Rear Admiral Glenn B. Davis, COM
mandant of the Potomac River
Naval Command; Oliver H. Wins
ton. director of the general field
office Of FPHA; Maj. Harvey G. CAL
lahan. chief of the Metropolitan Po-
lice Department, and Geoffrey M.
Thornett, secretary of the Board OF
Commissioners.
Color guards of the Army, Navy.
Marines and Coast Guard particle
pated in the flag raising, and Maj.
Gen. Luther D. Miller. Army chief Of
chaplains, pronounced the invoca-
ton for the exercises. Music was by
the Metropolitan Police Band.
When Mr.. Julig accepted the key
to his dwelling, he said:
This Is far cry from the one.
room walk-up apartment my wife
and two children have been living In.
We're very grateful. I'm certain
all veterans who become tenants will
keep these homes as If they were
our own
In all, the District Is spending
$250,0oo on the five housing projects
President Truman authorized the
expenditure last May and work on
the South Capitol project was be-
er,ix, -oora a IL aru,o ,d