Evening star., 1928-03-21
GEORGIA AVENUE
= PROJECT DEBATED
Montgomery County Board
Discusses Assessment for
Improvement.

The Board of County Commissioners
for Montgomery County conducted a
public hearing last night in the hearing
room Of the County Building, at Silver
Spring on the subject OF the proposed
S4s.Oo0 front foot benefit assessment
for the improvement of Georgia avenue
extended between the District line and
the intersection of Georgia avenue and
the ColeSville- Baltimore State Highway,
At the northern end of Silver Spring
business section. at which latter point
the new roadway from Sixteenth street
To the District line is now under con-
StT1ction Approximately 40 citizens
attended the hearing, which was con-
Quoted by Commissioners Lacy Shaw
Robert L. Hiekerson and Clagett C.
Hilton.
Capt. Frank L. Hewitt protested
against the front foot benefit levy on
the ground that q more economical
Improvement program for Georgia ave-
nue. could be worked out. Capt. Hewitt
favored the improvement of Georgia
avenue, but opposed the levy of any
6ront foot benefit tax for this purpose.
He further argued that the cost of
Improvement and street widening at
the northern end of the Silver Spring
subway on Georgia avenue should have
been paid for by Montgomery County
As . whole rather than from 100000
bond issue on the Silver Spring cleo
eion precinct
Shows Cost Of Improvement,
John NJ. Faulconer stated that he
had computed the unit cost of the pro-
posed Georgia avenue improvement and
y &c
mate Of Sl3oo00 for the total cost OF
the project as excessively high, par
ticularly when compared 10 the District
Of Columbia unit cost. Mr.. Faulconer
favored the improvement but objected
70 the total cost
Several other citizens spoke in favor
a. the improvement, but objected to the
front-foot benefit cost. which will
amount to IS front foot on the prop
e-ty on each side of Georgia avenue.
Commissioner Shaw pointed out that
al work on the contract would be done
by the low bidders after public adver-
fisement and that the work would be
advertised and done under State roads
BIDS and supervision.
z. Brook Lee supported the present
Improvement plan and the front-foot
benefit assessment on the ground that
1t is essential to the continued growth
and prosperity of the Silver Spring
business section to widen Georgia ave-
nue. through that area TO allow one-way
trsfic on each side Of the thorough
fare and so eliminate dangerous traffic
conditions now existing in Silver Spring.
SSe.ees Already Appropriated.
Mr.. Lee stated that Silver Spring had
received its fair proportionate share of
public improvements from county funds
In Montgomery County in recent years
and that the county had appropriated
$50 900 toward widening Georgia avenue
from general county funds. which was
an amount equal 10 that spent from
county funds in Bethesda 10 widen
Wisconsin avenue
Mr. Lee also stated that the front
foot assessments in Silver Spring should
be logically expected 10 carry any cost
OF the proposed improvement over S8o.-
600. and that the proposed improve
nent plan. together with the necessity
OF financing part Of its cost from
front foot benefit tax had been ap-
proved by the Silver Spring Chamber
Of Commerce AZ several meetings OF
that BODY.
The commissioners postponed action
until next Tuesdays meeting Of the
board AZ Rockville