Evening star., 1934-02-03
?. v. AID SOUGHT
| FOR APARTMENTS
Project in Arlington Would
Offer l0W.PriCed Units
for U. S. Workers.

Widespread civic interest is being
shown in Arlington County and in the
Capital in the proposed plan, now be-
fore the Public Works Administration,
to build group Of apartment struc-
lures in nearby Virginia at the south
end of Arlington Ridge.
Designed primarily for the benefit
of Government employees, the plan is
to erect group of five or six up-to-
date, fireproof buildings of three to
six stories in height at a location
within Is minutes of the center of the
business district and the new Govern
ment buildings.
Backed by Chamber.
Indorsed by the Arlington County
Chamber Of Commerce and numerous
public officials of the county and the
Capital. the project would require ap-
proximately $3,00O,OOO of p w. A.
funds for erection of buildings and
development of park and garden areas
in connection with it,
The proposed apartment group
would be financed under a limited
dividend charter and managed by a
board OF civic leaders well versed in
business affairs.
Henry c. Morris, owner of the land,
who first sponsored the idea, esti-
mates that large, airy apartments can
be provided at about SO per room per
month. Additional facilities, such as
garages. etc. can be provided at very
low rates. he says.
Plans Drawn by Thomas.
THE plans" he said, were pre-
pared by Andrew j. Thomas of New
YORK, architect Of many of the Rocke-
feller apartment buildings and of the
Metropolitan Life Insurance low
rental projects. They provide about
5000 rooms in suites of two to five
rooms each. with baths. kitchenette
and dinettes. equipped with cooking
and refrigeration facilities.
From the standpoint of the Gov
ernment employees. more and more of
whom are being located in the Mall
buildings, within 3 miles of the site
selected. the approach across either
the Memorial or Highway Bridges.
with the comparative freedom of
traftlc and the possibility of living in
such suitable and pleasant surround
lngs at low rentals, should prove very
attractive.
Sees Wide Interest
Large corporations are sntA1ding
considerable sums in providing COM
Portable and attractive living quarters
Tor their employees. therefore. why
should not the Federal Government
az least show its willingness to en-
courage and foster that idea by help
ing to finance-entirely on a self
Equldatng baSlS-a demonstration
housing project in the most conspicu-
Gus ana convenient location near the
capital City and afford its hard
pressed employees some real rental re-
hel? AS demonstration project il
would create worldwide interest and
approval.
The phase Of the project which
mas particularly interested some of
the members of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
To do with the desire to set the trend
of development of the territory adj
laoent to the Memorial Bridge and
Boulevard and the Virginia shore
parks IN direction which will be in
keeping with these monumental Fed
eral improvements. The consistent
deve... lent of this area is matter
OF ceeD concern and it is believed
that not manv Of the Government
officials are sufficiently aware of the
great Influence the developments of
the next few years in this territory