Evening star., 1950-12-11
By Nelson M. Shepard

ticipated growth in a 40-page re-
port. Issued as a second mono
graph of the 30-Year Comprehen.
sive plan, 1t details the highlighti
with respect to orderly housing
and redevelopment set forth II
the recent Introductory summar!
report.
Based on an expected two millior
population for the metropolitan
area by 1880. the report suggest.
a need of at least 10000 addi.
tional housing units, or 1000 q
year. The basis is 3.5 persons
per family. The number of hous-
ing units cited takes no account
of demolitions that will come
about.
With the District expected to
level off at one million population
no definite number of new units
was estimated. But in the Dis
trict, where only 10 per cent OF
the land is vacant, housing fol
10 per cent of the present popula-
ton. or $500 persons could be
built at prevailing densities
These densities, however, are un-
desirable for future planning.
Contains Severe Indictment.
The report contains a severe in.
dictment of housing condition.
in the National Capital, pointing
out that Congress had indicated
it regards the District as "a pilot
example for the Nation" in the
application of the 1949 Housing
Act. In the District. where there
is a; shortage of every type ot
housing, the report said doubling
up of families accounted for ar
average of 3.8 persons per dwell
ing unit In 1948 as compared with
35 persons in 1910.
"a condition wherein people
are ill-housed is not fitting to
the character of the city that is
this Nations Capital" the report
declared. 1t added:
washington is q city where
impressive buildings face hand
some tree-lined streets. Yet. sor-
did sluns are within sight Of the
Capitol dome. Many Of the
close-in residential sections are
convenient places in which to
live. Other outlying areas take
an hour or more to travel be-
tween home and work. In it's res
idential area, the city has its
share of shabby construction
more than the usual share OF
good houses, an unusual number
of large-scale apartments and, In
Georgetown, rehabilitated ares
that is rare in American cities
for convenience and charm"
Another Georgetown
Incidentally, the report says
that areas of the Southwest dis
trict could become another
Georgetown" and the proposed
East Capitol street public building
development. and the new north
west triangle" if carried out
would rehabilitate wide "blighted
areas"
Referring to various slum areas
which caused Congress to pro-
pose elimination of inhabited
alleys, the report reminded that
II per cent of all dwelling units
in the District area are listed a.
being either in need of major re-
pairs or without baths.
Engineer Commissioner Gordon
r. Young, a member of the Plan
ming Commission, emphasized In
a statement prepared for the in
PRODUCTION of the report that close
coordination must be maintained
between the redevelopment and
low-rent housing program.
"Any redevelopment of Wash
ington's downtown slums involves
eviction of low-income families
now living there" the report said
pointing out that new public
housing must take care of these
evictees If redevelopment is tc
succeed.
"By terms of law and common
humanity" it added, ''it is re-
quired that displaced familie.
shall be offered substitute hous.
ing of a decent, safe and sani.
,tary' character, at prices they
can afford"
Guide For Future.
Since the Comprehensive Plar
is a guide to future planning, the
new monograph points to three
great planning problems in Wash
ington residential areas: /. That
Of guiding new growth in the
suburbs. 2. The development oi
the small amount of vacant land
yet remaining within the District
3. Replanning and rebuilding OBJ
solete slum areas In the older
central areas.
The outlook for expenditures to
execute plans for the redevelop-
ment program Is dim.
The Planning Commission had
drawn UP it's Comprehensive Plan
months before the Korean crisis
became synonymous with non
defense curtailments. There is
expectation. however, that Con-
gress might be forced by defense
needs to approve the proposed
$140 million program to disperse
Government agencies into nearby
1aryland and Virginia. That