Evening star., 1938-02-02

ne III IlluulG-CIdSS ldIlltleS WIlO
neither buy nor rent the new homes
but will be both landlords and tenants
as partners in the company that owns
all the houses and as lessees of their
individual homes.
Known as Parkbelt Homes Inc, the
project is development of General
Houses of Chicago, a pioneer in the
pre-fabricated house field. which has
options on enough additional land at
Greenbelt for building 200 houses
in ALL
AS outlined today by Arthur Fisher.
president of Parkbelt Homes, the pro-
gram is aimed to meet the needs Of
the family in the $4,000 income
bracket which wants the benefits of
home ownership without its usual
liabilities and annoyances. and also
points the way toward the cure of
some national headaches.
May Fill Leftover Land.
The Farm Security Administration,
which inherited Greenbelt after the
model community" was built by its
predecessor, Resettlement Administra-
ton, under Brain-truster Rex Tugwell.
hopes the new program will solve the
problem of. what to do with all the
land left over after construction Of
the original 885-family dwelling units
at Greenbelt. Congress has froWned
on any more building of the sort by
the Government itself.
The Parkbelt homes development
marks the first step toward expansion
of Greenbelt by the private building
industry, the F. S. A. said today in
formally announcing leasing of the
land. It pointed out there was room
for approximately 5000 homes at
Greenbelt, and said negotiations were
in progress with several other private
firms for Similar developments there.
The F. S. A. also announced it will
entertain proposals for similar pri-
vate building programs at its housing
projects near Milwaukee and Gin
cinnati
The program also is welcomed by
New Deal officials concerned with
some way to bring the building indus
try out of the economic doldrums, as
blazing a new trail in the field of
housing for middle-class families that
may provide the needed stimulation of
building activity.
From parts factory made by pre-
cision machinery, the 10 Parkbelt
homes are being assembled by local
union workmen on land leased from
tn F. S. A. for SO years, situated
at the edge of the original Greenbelt
development, near the lake.
Five-RO Homes.
Each five-room house is put to-
gether on a concrete foundation.
Columns and beams of copper bearing
steel are bolted to each other, and
fastened to the foundation to form an
unusually strong framework. The
walls, ceilings and roofs are built up
with factory made panels, which have
vapor sealed, blanket type of insula-
ton that insures against moisture
seepage and keeps the houses warmer
in winter and cooler in summer.
Exterior surfaces are flreproof, wealth.
er-resisting asbestos cement.
The individual home heating plants
are built around thermostatic-co
trolled oil burners to provide winter
air-conditioning and humidity control.
The oil burners are installed in a
utility room" adjacent to the kitchen,
with space for laundry and storage.
| All-electric kitchen equipment is
provided.
Mr.. Fisher said bare construction
cost of each house is $5,400. in addi-
ton to the value of the land, streets,
sewerage and other utilities in the
development. Each home will have
one third acre of land, with individual
landscaping and space for flower
gardens. The company pays the Gov
ernment $3.50 per acre annual rental
the Federal Housing Authority.
Occupants Of the Parkbelt homes
will be citizens Of Greenbelt, enjoying
all the community privileges, and
while subject to town ordinances and
regulations, will not be under the
many restrictions imposed on the
Government leaseholders. The ban
on dogs and cats for Government
tenants, for instance, will not apply
to Parkbelt residents.
No Income Restrictions.
Neither will there be any limitation
on incomes of Parkbelt families, such
as set up in selecting Greenbelt ten
ants, although the Parkbelt homes
are designed primarily to meet the
needs of families earning around
5000 a year, with one or two children.
The Parkbelt Homes, Inc, financial
set-up Is planned so that eventually
the families living there will own the
company in = cooperative that Is .
cooperative IN every sense Of the
VQQd." ~, ylGh1r 49, Tho initial