The American Architect
Wednesday, February 12, 1919 Number 2251 The Future of Government Villages
By Clarence Wilson Brazer With every newspaper containing reports
at the proposed action of the Government
to housing operations, and articles inspirit by me recent Senate Joint Resolution 194, constructive discussion as to the disposition of these villages becomes more pertinent. This resolution, which would require the cessation of all building not over 70 per cent completed and the cancellation of contracts for furnishings, is particularly aimed at the temporary dormitories and apartments being constructed in the City of Washington between the Capitol and the Union Station Plaza (expected to have been completed last December), as well as those proposed for 2800 Government employees at Twenty-third and B Streets. As temporary accommodations with their furnishings will not much longer be required, it may be wise to cancel such contracts and to scrap the houses not roofed and ‘•enclosed. This has generally already been done as we will see later.
When, however, we consider permanent housing an entirely different situation is involved, and radical amendments should be adopted before enacting any such law as the previously mentioned resolution. Should unenclosed buildings not be scrapped and the site be not restored “without trace,” these deteriorating skeletons would become a serious detriment to adjoining Government investments. If outsiders were to buy and complete these houses they would reap the advantages of utilities provided, and such breaking into the development by newcomers would greatly handicap good management of the community as a whole. Work which has progressed even 50 per cent could probably be completed for less than it could be demolished and scrapped, including just compensation for cancellation of materials ordered and manufactured.
The well organized and managed U. S. Housing Corporation received its appropriation too late for many of its houses to be occupied before the armistice was signed. At that time, upon interpretation of the law, 55 of its villages were abandoned and contracts were terminated or curtailed wherever there was thought to be no permanent demand for
houses in normal times. Over 30 of the corporation’s beautiful plans will probably never be undertaken, and the real estate purchased or condemned will probably be sold. In some instances, within a week of the cessation of hostilities, rafters of unroofed buildings were torn down. Over $23,000,000 worth of contracts were cancelled with a loss of $4,000,000, while 14 other housing contracts aggregating $17,000,000 were curtailed to $11,000,000. Twenty operations are, unless stopped by the proposed law, to Ire completed at a cost of $23,000,000, These are generally of a permanent character and located in cities such as Philadelphia, Erie, Bethlehem and Elizabeth, where there is demand for permanent houses to fill the gap in normal production caused by cessation of private building during the war. Before appropriations were made all these projects were exhaustively investigated and permanent housing only granted where such an investment seemed desirable, therefore the expert judgment of this Corporation, as shown by its voluntary cancellations, should not be lightly cast aside for the purpose of enabling political recoupment for other extravagances. The work under the Housing Corporation awarded upon competitive bids in lump sum contracts, probably will be found to be more economical than the “cost plus” contracts let by other branches of the Government, and with their land, being owned outright by the Government, thus most concern us.
The appropriations for the Emergency Fleet Corporation buildings, on the other hand, were granted earlier and the villages were largely completed under “cost plus” contracts. Few of these have been cancelled, although extensions have been curtailed. The houses are mainly of permanent construction and were financed by Government ten-year, or less, mortgage loans for local housing corporations largely owned by shipbuilders. The land and public utilities are generally owned by the Local Housing Corporation, but the Fleet Corporation agreements provide that it may fix the rental and selling price as long as the mortgage remains unpaid, except that the rents need not be
Copyright, 1919, The Architectural & Building Press (Inc.)
Wednesday, February 12, 1919 Number 2251 The Future of Government Villages
By Clarence Wilson Brazer With every newspaper containing reports
at the proposed action of the Government
to housing operations, and articles inspirit by me recent Senate Joint Resolution 194, constructive discussion as to the disposition of these villages becomes more pertinent. This resolution, which would require the cessation of all building not over 70 per cent completed and the cancellation of contracts for furnishings, is particularly aimed at the temporary dormitories and apartments being constructed in the City of Washington between the Capitol and the Union Station Plaza (expected to have been completed last December), as well as those proposed for 2800 Government employees at Twenty-third and B Streets. As temporary accommodations with their furnishings will not much longer be required, it may be wise to cancel such contracts and to scrap the houses not roofed and ‘•enclosed. This has generally already been done as we will see later.
When, however, we consider permanent housing an entirely different situation is involved, and radical amendments should be adopted before enacting any such law as the previously mentioned resolution. Should unenclosed buildings not be scrapped and the site be not restored “without trace,” these deteriorating skeletons would become a serious detriment to adjoining Government investments. If outsiders were to buy and complete these houses they would reap the advantages of utilities provided, and such breaking into the development by newcomers would greatly handicap good management of the community as a whole. Work which has progressed even 50 per cent could probably be completed for less than it could be demolished and scrapped, including just compensation for cancellation of materials ordered and manufactured.
The well organized and managed U. S. Housing Corporation received its appropriation too late for many of its houses to be occupied before the armistice was signed. At that time, upon interpretation of the law, 55 of its villages were abandoned and contracts were terminated or curtailed wherever there was thought to be no permanent demand for
houses in normal times. Over 30 of the corporation’s beautiful plans will probably never be undertaken, and the real estate purchased or condemned will probably be sold. In some instances, within a week of the cessation of hostilities, rafters of unroofed buildings were torn down. Over $23,000,000 worth of contracts were cancelled with a loss of $4,000,000, while 14 other housing contracts aggregating $17,000,000 were curtailed to $11,000,000. Twenty operations are, unless stopped by the proposed law, to Ire completed at a cost of $23,000,000, These are generally of a permanent character and located in cities such as Philadelphia, Erie, Bethlehem and Elizabeth, where there is demand for permanent houses to fill the gap in normal production caused by cessation of private building during the war. Before appropriations were made all these projects were exhaustively investigated and permanent housing only granted where such an investment seemed desirable, therefore the expert judgment of this Corporation, as shown by its voluntary cancellations, should not be lightly cast aside for the purpose of enabling political recoupment for other extravagances. The work under the Housing Corporation awarded upon competitive bids in lump sum contracts, probably will be found to be more economical than the “cost plus” contracts let by other branches of the Government, and with their land, being owned outright by the Government, thus most concern us.
The appropriations for the Emergency Fleet Corporation buildings, on the other hand, were granted earlier and the villages were largely completed under “cost plus” contracts. Few of these have been cancelled, although extensions have been curtailed. The houses are mainly of permanent construction and were financed by Government ten-year, or less, mortgage loans for local housing corporations largely owned by shipbuilders. The land and public utilities are generally owned by the Local Housing Corporation, but the Fleet Corporation agreements provide that it may fix the rental and selling price as long as the mortgage remains unpaid, except that the rents need not be
Copyright, 1919, The Architectural & Building Press (Inc.)