Evening star., 1949-01-14
Housing Project
In Eastern DC.
SET for Late 50
SIum Clearance Plun
Provides $50 Units
For Marshall Heights

It will be late 1850 before ground
is broken in Marshall Heights for
the first experimental project of the
new Urban Redevelopment Act.
This was disclosed by Maj. Gen
U. S. Grant III, chairman OF the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, in staff report on the
slun clearance program to the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Oficials also revealed that the
maximum rental of about $50 low
rent dwelling units proposed for the
project would be Sl3 room pei
month, exclusive of the cost Of utili-
ties. or $3.50 unit per month. in
cluding utilities - whichever figure
may be lower.
Gen. Grant, who presented the
staff report, said approximately IS
per cent. or more than 300 OF the
48o families now living in Marshall
Heights, are low-income families
For these families low-rent or low
cost housing must be made avail
able in the new project under the
law.
Cost Not Estimated
Cost of the entire project was not
estimated in the 30-page report pre-
pared by the planning commission
staff and celebrating agencies, but
the figure is expected to run into
the millions. The report did not
specify whether the proposed low
rent dwelling units should be public
or private.
Gen. Grant said the 1S0-acre
tract in the east corner of the Dis
trict, where some critics protest the
Government is trying to establish
NEGRO ghetto" was chosen as 1.-The
most pressing and appropriate area
for which to prepare the first plans
under the Redevelopment Act.
Calling for complete rehabili-
tation of the area and threefold
increase of the present population
of about 2,100 persons. the plan has
been under discussion and study
for several years. The Planning
Commission. the Commissioners and
the Redevelopment Land Agency
have several other substandard
areas also under study.
Provided funds are made avail
able this spring, the report stated
the actual period of physical opera
tions probably would extend for
about two years. The time neces-
sary to complete surveys, search
titles, negotiate with owners and
acquire the property would run
well into 1850. For that reason, it
was pointed out. there is no imme-
date fear of family displacements.
Buildings Below Standard.
Gen. Grant did not suggest i'm
mediate action on the reports rec
ommendation. Pending final action,
he suggested that the interested
parties be given time for further
study and the commission. be given
time to submit additional data. q
Housing conditions in Marshall
Heights. described in the report, in
dicate the urgent need of rehabili-
tation.
Only 20 dwellings, or 5 per cent,
now meet standards for healthful
housing adopted by the Committee
on the Hygiene of Housing. Thirty
four, or 9 per cent, require mod
crate to major" alterations to meet
the standards.
The other 337, or S6 per cent, the
report declared, should either be
completely rehabilitated or torn
down.
THE deficiencies are so Sc
rious that even the provisions of
water services and sanitary facilities
would enable few, if any, of these
dwellings to meet the committee S
standards" it added.
Land Use Map Included.
Included in the report is the first
prepared land use map of the Dis
trict showing three categories of
population density, commercial and
residential area. The map is part
of the comprehensive plan for
Washington which the Planning
Commission is preparing.
With go per cent of the land
vacant in Marshall Heights, the re-
port said the 180 acres could be
used readily to accommodate $500
families or about 5000 persons. The
dominant population density for
the east corner of the District, as
indicated on the map, is the lowest
population density and ranges up
to IS persons per acre. Medium
density in most other residential
areas is from 35 to 10 persons per
acre. In the highest density areas,
the figure exceeds 10 per acre.
Proposed uses or the 180 acres
were set forth as follows: Residen-
tial, l08 acres, or so per cent; semi
public (churche0, is acres, or !
per cent; public (school, playground
park, 20 acres. or II per cent; COM
mercial, is acres or / per cent, and
streets widths of 80 and go feet)
49 acres, or 81 per cent.
School, Playground Planned.
The plan calls for $50 single-fam-
fly detached homes on lots of at
least 5000 square feet; $50 semide-
tached, community or group houses
and 200 apartment units for fam
lilies Of three or less persons.
A 5-acre school and playground
site is reserved for replacement OF
the Nalle Elementary School. Two
parks totaling las acres are pro-
posed and a small commercial use
of the east and west corners of the
Central avenue -Benning road South.
ern avenue triangle
The other boundary lines Of the
area are East Capitol street and
Forty-ninth street on the west.
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