Evening star., 1952-11-20
Southwest
Public Housinq
Units Planned
NCHA Area Would
Be Adjacent to
Proposed Project B


The National Capital Housing
Authority is planning to build
about $40 public housing dwell
ings adjacent to the first project
of the Southwest redevelopment
program.
John Ihlder, NCHA executive
director. disclosed the plans yes
terday at a public meeting to ad-
wise citizens on the progress Of
the redevelopment project. The
new units. according to the tenta-
tive plans he discussed, will be in
the area of Delaware avenue.
south of street.
This area is within the 427 acres
of Southwest Washington ear
marked for slum clearance and is
just south of the first 76.6-acre
tract-called Project B-to be re-
developed. The Commissioners
will hold a public hearing on De-
cember II on the Project B plan.
First Specific Proposal.
The plans discussed by Mr..
Ihlder represented the first spe-
cific proposal for public housing
within the general redevelopment
area.
The NCHA chief said that in
1850 his agency had an ALLEGATION
for about $50 new units in the
Southwest. Most of the original
area. he said. has been swallowed
up in the Project B redevelopment
plan.
Mr.. Ihlder raised the subject in
connection with finding new homes
for present residents of the prof.
ect B area who will be displaced
at least temporarily. He said the
problem will be intensified because
of additional residents who will be
displaced by his proposed new
public housing project.
Number Unknown.
Mr.. Ihlder said he does not know
how many families in that area
will have to move. or how many
are eligible for public housing.
About $50 families in the project B
area, however. meet the income
requirements for public housing.
Redevelopment planners hope
most of them can be placed in
public housing units.
John r. Searles, jr., director Of
the Redevelopment Land Agency.
told the mass meeting of South
west residents yesterday that only
one-third of the public housing
vacancies that will exist during the
next six months will meet needs
of the loWest-income group to be
moved from project B. He said
he will work closely with MIR.
Ihlder in working out admission
to the public housing dwellings.
Mr.. Ihlder said he has agreed
to put displaced residents of the
redevelopment area who need pub
lie housing on parity with those
displaced by his own project. How
ever, he said, no formal agreement
for handling the problem has been
worked out. One Of his greatest
problems, he said, Is that 1000
names already are on public hous-
ing waiting lists.
Questioned on Moving.
Various phases of the redevelop-
ment plan were described yester-
day by John Nolen. jr.. planning
director of the National Capital
Planning Commission: Mr.. Searles,
Mr.. Ihlder and Samuel r. Harri-
son OF the District Highway De-
partment.
Questions thrown at the group
by the Southwest residents CEN
tered on where they will move and
what their chances of returning
will be after the residential and
business areas are rebuilt.
Mr.. Searles said his agency will
follow a firm policy of finding suit
able dwellings before any family Is
asked to move. In addition, he
said. the agency will attempt to
get priority for any families who
want to return to areas they leave.
In the Project B area, between
750 and 900 new dwellings are pro-
posed. About 1850 households are
now in the area. At least one
third of the new dwellings, under
present plans. would be low-rental
units-calling for maximum rent
OF SIT per room per month.