Evening star., 1955-01-26
Approval Near
For Another
SluIl Project
$6 Million Southwest
Plan Would Provide
456 Dwelling Units
By William A. MiIIen

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Early approval will be giver
by the Public Housing Admins
tration to the National Capital
Housing Authority to wipe out
another Southwest slum section
The Star learned today.
This means the last official
hurdle win be cleared. officials
said. enabling James Ring, exec
utive director Of the authority
to negotiate for property pur-
chase. His agency also win draw
up plans to rehouse the people
now living In the area.
The approval will be for
NCHA's general plan for devel-
opment, with cost estimates and
site boundaries. 1t will permit
detailed planning to begin and
enable the authority to buy land
Immediately.
Sc Million Project.
The project, estimated to cost
over $6 million, will contain 456
dwelling units. Mr.. Ring hopes
to complete the project in about
two years. It fits into overall
plans Of the Redevelopment
Land Agency for Southwest de-
yelopment.
The project includes two Sec
tions. One, Is bounded by I and
M streets, Delaware avenue and
Third street S.W. The other is
bounded by Canal, M and N
streets and Delaware avenue,
The project win replace another
section of slumss with modern
low-rent dwellings for those un-
able to pay for private housing.
The NCHA project is consid-
cred important, for it will pro-
vide public housing into which
persons displaced from their
homes elsewhere in the South
west can be moved.
Preliminary Plans Cleared.
Preliminary plans for the prof.
ect already have been cleared
by PHA. Mr.. Ring explained
that the architectural firm Of
Berla g. Abel. 1886 Connecticut
avenue NV, is preparing plans
for the 456 dwelling units and
the field administrative office,
which will contain space for
community activities and neigh
borhood meetings as an aid in
curbing juvenile delinquency.
Mr.. Ring hopes to complete
the necessary property
for the development and demol-
ish the old buildings in about
six months. The new construc-
tion will be done by private
contractors, chosen after COM
petitive bidding.
MIR. Ring pointed out the au-
thority already has completed its
appraisals Of the properties in
volved. The authority also has
hurdled the various other off,
cial barriers that must be over
come in such a program. 1t has
the approval of the District
Commissioners, who have ap-
proved the site: received the in
dorsement of the National Capt.
tai Planning Commission, and
obtained the sanction of its own
Board of Directors.
Price Often Negotiated.
Mr.. Ring explained the au-
condemns the needed
through the Justice
Department. But in q great
many instances. it is possible to
negotiate with the property
owners and agree upon q salts
factory price, he said.
The project embraces a COM
bination Of two-story row houses
and one eight-story apartment
house, with elevators for older
families, crippled children and
others disabled. The two-story
houses will have from three to
i've bedrooms for the larger
families.
There will be 1856 houses and
'20 apartment units. About O.
700 people will live In the au-
;hority's new buildings in this
project. contrasted with about
!. 900 who now live in the exist
ng dwellings.
Bonds sold on the open mar
ket will aid in financing the
project, he explained. Congress
appropriated to PHA funds that
amount to q subsidy to enable
ow-income families to pay the
'ent.