Evening star., 1947-03-01
New Center Finished
In II Months at
$2,7R, 100 Cost

When John Ihlder, executive OH
Ger Of the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority, told Congress We'd
nesdays in his annual report he
wants to build $500 1ow-rent nous
ing units for veterans with families
making $500 a,year or less, he was
talking about homes like those just
completed at Lincoln Heights In
Northeast Washington.
He also meant he wants to build
them as part Of the program to re-
build Washington's slums under the
city's new Land Redevelopment
Agency. The nominations Of five
members Of this agency were to
come up for confirmation by the
Senate yesterday but were passed
over, owing to pressure Of other
business. The Senate may take
them up at Its next session Monday.
The Lincoln Heights housing prof.
ect for colored tenants is Washing.
toms latest. It was finally finished
in December after 81 months, in
which materials and labor shortages
caused Contractor T. Calvin Owens,
operating under a fixed-sum con-
tract, headaches such as few other
builders have had to bear. As far
as Mr. Ihider knows, it was the last
fixed sum contract to be made here
abouts and he gives MIR. Owens a
full measure of credit for success
fully finishing a job which turned
out to be costly and distasteful to
the builder.
The project consists of 81 two-story
single-family houses and 348 apart
ments in three story buildings. There
are 66 one-bedroom units, 225 two
bedroom units, lot hree-bedroom
units and AZ four-bedroom units.
Each unit has a bathroom, living
room and kitchen. These become
larger as the number OF bedrooms
increases.
Full monthly rent for the one
bedroom units is $3.50, for the two
bedroom units, $49.50; for the three
bedroom units $50.50 and for the
four bedroom units $51 so. Rents for
all units may be scaled down as low
as $11 monthly under present hous-
ing law, depending on family in
come. AT present Mr.. Ihlder esti-
mates 10 per cent of the units are
bringing in the full rent.
Total cost of the project, includ-
ing land purchase, administrative
salaries, legal fees, grading and
other expenses was $2,745, ,19080.
The total contract came to $2,241,-
248.21.
I. Structure cost chat is, cost of
building only plus equipment and
facilities to within S feet outside
the walls) was $4,905.47 per unit.
Structure cost had to be under 5000
per unit to comply with low-cost
housing law. Total cost per unit was
$6,239.07.
The project sets at Fiftieth
street and Fitch place NE, on a hill.
Private builders had carefully
avoided this site because of grading
and utility costs and imperfect titles
to land, Mr.. Ihlder said.
1t was designed by the architec-
tural firm of Saarinen, Swanson &
Saarinen. E1iel Saarinen, senior
partner, Is an American Institute of
Architects medal winner and has an
international reputation.
The 1948 budget carries a request
for money to landscape the area.
Not far away is the Marshall
Heights area, one of three selected
to start the Land Redevelopment
Agency's initial rebuilding program.
NCHA now has waiting list of
5000 veteran and $4,000 nonveteran
families. Turnover in its nearly
5000 permanent and temporary
units already built averages only
four a day-one reason why Mr..
Ihlder is campaigning to build s.
500 more units.