Evening star., 1949-07-13
Bill Asks Shift
Of 583 Houses
Here 10 NCHA
Spurkmun Measure
Also Involves 5
Alexandra Projects

The Federal Government would
transfer 583 permanent wartime
houses in three different areas
here to the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority. under q bill intro
duced by Senator Sparkman,
Democrat, of Alabama.
Five housing projects in the
Alexandra area also would be
transferred by the measure to the
Alexandria Redevelopment and
Housing Authority.
The bill, sent to the Senate
Banking and Currency Committee,
carries many amendments to the
National Housing Act, which just
became law.
Proposed transfer of the war
housing projects here is included
among the many provisions Of the
comprehensive Sparkman meas
ure. 1t would authorize disposal
of war and veterans housing,
broaden mortgage insurance pro-
grams, provide aid to cooperative
housing, liberalize veterans home
loans and authorize a $500. .000, 900
loan program to educational in
stitutions for construction Of
housing.
Groups Involved.
The three groups of houses pro-
posed to be transferred in Wash
ington to the National Capital
Housing Authority, according to
John 1hlder, executive officer, are:
Highland Dwellings. at Atlantic
street and Condor terrace Sc,
containing 350' two STORY masonry
houses.
Stoddert Dwellings, at Anacostia !
road and Ridge road Sc. consist |
ing of 1877 one and two-story
houses.
Twenty-first Street Houses. for
colored, at Twenty-frst and H
streets NE, consisting of SO two
story frame dwellings.
The Alexandria projects, all
built under Lanham Act funds.
according to John Kerr. acting
director of the Alexandria Rede-
velopment and Housing Authority.
include Chinquapin Village, Ram
sey Homes and three sections in
Cameron Valley.
Mr.. Ihlder said the District |
Commissioners have approved the
proposal to have title to the three
District developments transferred
from the Housing and Home |
Finance Administration to the
NCHA. Such approval would be
stipulated, under the bill, as one
of the requirements for a transfer.
Changes Status.
Under the present setup, Mr..
nlder explained, the NCHA acts
as the agent" for the Public
Housing Administration. handling
the local projects. If the bill is
enacted, and the transfer Of prop
erty accomplished, the NCHA
would operate as the owner"
The bill would provide for pay
ment Of the net income from the
Housing to the Public Housing
Administration each year.
Payments to the District in lieu
OF taxes assessed at regular rates
could be made for the tax year in
which conveyance is made and the
subsequent tax year. Thereafter,
however. such payments could not
exceed 10 per cent of the annual
shelter rent charged in the
project"
Could Remove Tenants.
The public housing agency. with
In six months after conveyance of
the property, would be required to
initiate a program to remove in
eligible tenants from the low-rent
housing and complete this program
within a period of 18 months"
Mr.. Ihlder said there still are
1000 dwellings in the city listed as
Temporary" He said the NCHA
intends to get rid of them as soon
as housing is available elsewhere
to take care of the temporary
home tenants.
These dwellings, he said, were
built without regard to the Dis
trict's building code and could not
comply with the code, if moved
elsewhere inside the District.
He suggested they might be sold
to persons who could use them as
shore cottages.