Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-12
Report Forecasts Acute
Stun Rehousinq Pinch

An increasingly acute reloc
District in connection with its .
plans. the city has declared in
Of 10000 families expected
years, the city so far has made l
proportion, Commissioner Rob-
ert E. Mclaughlin has informed
Federal officials.
The main barrier, Mr.. Nc
Laughlin said, is a serious short
age Of public housing. A lack of
suitable public housing sites
within the Districts boundaries
is a source of anxiety" to all
concerned, he declared.
The Capital also needs to step
up its housing enforcement, but
hasn't yet enough inspectors, he
added.
Report to Agency
These conclusions were listed
in a report directed to the
Housing and Home Finance
Agency. which is financing the
Districts major redevelopment
projects.
The Commissioner. in a cover
ing letter. said urban renewal
progress during the past year
was sufficient to merit consider
able satisfaction" but he also
pointed to the need for more
intense effort"
The Mclaughlin Endorsed re-
port, actually prepared by the
urban renewal Office, devoted
stable space to the relocation
problem.
The report did not state any
where that the city has not
managed to keep pace so far
with the requirement that it re-
house all those who are dis
placed by specific slum clearance
projects. Redevelopment officials,
by law. must relocate those up
rooted by these projects.
Other Displacement Reasons
But the report conceded there
are many families displaced by
other governmental action-in-
GLIDING housing code enforce
ment. building condemnation
and highway construction-"for
whom no special provisions have
been made"
1t predicted frankly that this
problem will become more
acute" as these types Of action
gain momentum.
1t also pointed, in particular.
to a shortage which has an inn
pact even on the formal re-
development program.
OF $500 added public housing
units which the city now is hop
ing to schedule, it is planned to
build over 1000 with three and
more bedrooms. the report noted.
But 30 far housing authorities
haven't even found sites for any
Of these big units.
In this connection the report
pointed out that more than half
Of the families living In the
Southwest Area Gust recently
approved for clearance-are ex-
pected to require public housing.
While declaring optimistically
that the required public
housing" Is expected to become
available in time. the report ad-
mitted that some dificulty may
De encountered in rehousing
families requiring three or more
bedrooms"
Lag After Changes
On another tack. the report
also said officials are not keep
ing up with the rapid changes in
some neighborhoods, which af-
feet the city's urban renewal
needs and the extent Of blight
1t said more up-to-the-minute
information is needed.
Commissioner McLaughlin
labeled approval Of the Area c
project "the most significant
urban renewal step ever taken
in the District" He referred to
this area as the worst slum In
the Capital"
The report also cited some
other pluses in the renewal pic
ture. These included:
An encouraging increase In
interest" In the renewal program
on the part Of citizens groups
success Of private enterprise
In meeting the needs Of displaced
families able to pay suhicient
rents.
Significant influence" on ur-
pan renewal activities BY the
two-year-old. 15-member Urban
Renewal Council, which advises
the District Commissioners.
Breakdown Effective
Marked improve q"
brought about by special house.
toulouse inspection breakdown
IN a rundown Northeast pilot
area during the last 10 months
Inc report singled out for