The Omaha Guide

Washington, D. C. The City of Columbus, Ga., today was assured a million dollar increase in its 1939 residential building volume when Nathan Straus, Administrator of the United States Housing Authority, approved a base bid recommended by the Columbus Housing Authority for construction of the "Booker T. Washington Apartments" to rehouse families from the slums in new, low rent dwellings.

The base bid approved today was as follows:

General Construction (Including demolition of existing structures, site improvement, plumbing, heating, electrical work and landscaping). Mion Construction Co., Atlanta, Ga.. $706,760.

The bid covers the demolition of 140 slum structures now on the site and the construction of 288 decent, safe and sanitary dwelling units for Negro families.

Later additional slum structures will be demolished, effectively closed, or repaired, to conform to the "equivalent elimination" provisions of the United States Housing Act.

Construction is expected to start by June 1 and will be completed within approximately eleven months. Although the low bidder was not a Columbus firm, it is understood that workmen on the project will be employed from the local buildings trades and will be paid the prevailing rate of wages.

The "Booker T. Washington Apartments" are to be built on an "L" shaped site comprising three city blocks, faced on two sides by typical slum dwellings, on a third by vacant and on the fourth by a city park and fair grounds containing a municipal stadium and spacious recreation area.

The site is about one mile from the center of the city and is close to schools, churches, stores and transportation facilities. A large Negro High school is situated within easy walking distance of the site.

Plans approved by the USHA call for fireproof construction of two story row houses featuring brick walls, concrete floors and flat concrete roofs with composition covering. The buildings will be arranged so as to provide front and rear yards and space for small play areas. Individual gas-fired heaters will be installed in each dwelling unit.

The Columbus Housing Authority also is planning a second low-rent project to rehouse approximately 360 white families now residing in unsafe and insanitary dwellings.

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