Evening star., 1950-02-20
Home Builders Head
Asks Congress Probe
0f2Housing Co-ops
By Robert J. Lewis
Stor SfoH Correspondent

CHICAGO, Feb. 20.-The head
of the Nations home builders to-
day cited Washington area
housing cooperative and one in
Virginia in statement calling on
Congress to investigate "the sue
cess or failure of housing cooper
atives throughout the country be-
fore voting on spending meas
ure to subsidize cooperative hous-
ing.
In statement issued as the
National Association of Home
Builders formally opened its an
nual convention here, Rodney M.
Lockwood, president of the build
ers' organization, declared he be-
lieved a committee investigation
would disclose that American
housing co-operatives had gen
orally failed miserably" to do as
good a job or providing housing
as privately sponsored projects.
II believe that in virtually every
case, If the books of United States
housing co-operatives were thrown
open to examination, it would be
shown that they have not done
the kind of job that would make
a cooperative housing program a
good risk-either for the Govern
meht or for the people who might
be so unWise as to join in such a
cooperative group" he declared.
The two cooperative projects
he mentioned are the Bannock-
burn Housing Cooperative in
Montgomery County, Md, near
Glen Echo, and a union-spon-
sored project in Front Royal. Va
Would Accompany Group.
Attending the convention here
are about IS Washington area
builders. led by Clarke Daniel,
president of the Home Builders
Association of Metropolitan WASH
tngton.
In challenging Congress to ap-
point an investigating committee
to look into cooperative housing
projects undertaken in this coun-
try. Mr.. Lockwood said he would
like to have an opportunity to ac-
company such committee at his
own expense. along with a pro-
cooperative representative.
II honestly feel that Congress
would have it's eyes opened by q
real investigation of these housing
co-operatives," Mr.. Lockwood
said.
"A committee of Congress spen,
time in Europe this summer tx
study housing co-operatives il
Sweden and elsewhere, he said
With the co-opertive housing bill
coming up for discussion, it woulc
be only fair now for Congress tt
find out how housing co-opera
tives right here in our own coun.
try have Jared.
Costs Held Higher.
II am certain that such an in
vestigation will prove not only tha
the cooperative plan of building
houses and apartments does not
save money but that. as a matter
of fact, many co-operatives have
lost money IN producing dwellings
at higher costs than the same
dwellings are being sold for by
private builders. And this has
happened in spite of the fact that
some co-operatives have had the
benefit of advice and guidance OF
so-called experts from Govern
ment housing agencies.
Certainly, the Congress does
not want to underwrite another
housing f1asco like the Lustron
deal, which will result in an ad-
mitted loss to the Government o1
more than $50 1000, 900 in taxpayers
money.
"The proposed 81 billion Gov.
errment subsidized CO -operativ.
housing program-with the newt.
able mismanagement by inexperi.
enced people-would subject the
Government to an even greater
loss.
Exhibition Opens.
Yesterday an exhibition of more
than 800 items of home building