Evening star., 1949-01-30
U. U.S.-Sponsored Drive
For Economy Housing
To Be Launched Here
By Robert J. Lewis

a AGoVernmenC-Spon Natlon~
wide campaign to encourage build
ers to get into the economy" or
low.price residential field will be
launched here February 10.
Preliminary phases of the pro-
gram were set up at a meeting in
the Federal Housing Administrator
Building last Thursday at which an
Economy Housing Committee COM
posed Of Washington area builders,
officers of financing institutions
and offlcials in affiliated fields was
organized. This committee will
carry on the program here.
William S. Banks, president of
the Home Builders Association of
Metropolitan Washington, who was
chosen chairman of the committee,
named a steering committee which
will arrange a program of discus
sion meetings.
Industry leaders say the idea is
to have builders concentrate on
economy housing" but make it
clear there is not going to be ali
great deal of change in the prices
Of the type of homes which are
being built now. A lower-priced
type should be created, they feel.
The Governments idea seems to
be, on the basis Of statements of
officials and literature distributed,
that while demand for higher priced
houses is slowing up, there is a vast
untouched market for the smaller
lower priced house and that the
private builder can reach this field
If he can be induced to try.
Idea Not New.
This idea, officials point out, Is
not new. For nearly a year the
National Association of Home Build
ers has been campaigning to have
builders produce stripped down
dwellings which could sell for $4,000,
$1,000 or $1,000. There have been
some results, but they have not as
yet been startling or geographically.
we'll distributed.
The Washington Home Builders
Association was one of the first to
cooperate in this program, and it
now has underway two expert
mental houses which are expected
to be within the economy house"
price range. A few individual Dis
trict area builders also have exper-
imented along these lines. .
Up to now, big stumbling block
has been the difficulty of obtaining
financing for this type Of house. |
Partly the Government has been
blamed by builders for setting up
requirements that are difficult to
meet within the low-price range.
But private financing institutions 4
also have been represented as re-
luctant to finance homes of this
kind. The difficulty of finding suit
able land and subdivisions that will /
permit the so-called. "striped-dow
dwelling also is formidable.
At last weeks meeting, sponsored |
offcially by the Housing and Home
Finance Agency, James A. Hewitt,
director of F'HA's district Office, pre-
sided until the committee had elect
ed o chairman.
Members Named.
Members Of the Advisory Com
mittee include Robert H. Lacey,
president OF the District Bankers
Association; Raymond Taylor. Ed
ward L. McAleer, George. C.. Nc
1ntosh, Joseph F. Nebel, Louis
Justement, j. J. Cermak, VIM. ].
Wohlfarth. AL Mergardt, Edward r.
Carr. James West, Norman H..
Barnes, Joseph H. Deckman,
George Fuller, Arthur Pomponio,
Waldron e. Leonard, Brig. Gen.
Gordon r. Young, Philip T. Regan,
Blanton Barnett, Clifton G. Stone
berger, c. L. Watkins, T. j. Stock
ton, Morgan B. Callahan, Gino
]. SINH and Charles c. Koones.