Evening star., 1940-08-13
+. ). A. Prefers
Outright Sale
Of Greenbe|t
Long-Term Lease Felt
Less Advantageous
To Community
BY JOHN d. LEONARD.

When the Federal Government
decides to give up control of Green
belt, Nd, Farm Security Adminis-
tration officials would prefer to sell
the model community outright to
new administrative unit on long
term mortgage rather than to rent
1t on a long-term lease, 1t was
learned today.
At the same time it was also
understood that officials hope that
housing authority will be estab-
lished as the administrative unit
for Greenbelt rather than an "in-
corporated residents association"
the other form of administrative
control under consideration.
Only yesterday it was learned
that the Farm Security Admins
tration has been working out plans
for the transfer of its $35 100000
investment in Greenbelt and its
two other model communities,
Greenhills in Ohio and Greendale
in Wisconsin, on the basis that the
communities have attained the de-
sired degree of -sufflciency to
stand on their own feet"
1t is felt in official circles that
outright sale or transfer of Green
belt would lessen Federal connec-
ton with the community and give
it a greater degree of self-govern-
ment and individual responsibility
than we're it leased to the admins
trative body
Reasons for Preferrinx Sale.
1t was explained that were the
Government to lease Greenbelt IL
would still be responsible for pay
ments to the State and county gov
ernment in lieu Of taxes. On the
other hand, if the property is sold.
the State and county would be able
to levy direct taxes.
Creation of a housing authority
for Greenbelt would rest in the
hands of the Prince Georges County
Commissioners, according to Gov
ernment officials. Last January
the. commissioners indefinitely
postponed" the appointment Of an
authority which had been proposed
by county leaders following a sur
vey OF housing conditions in the
Metropolitan Area of the county.
Asked for comment on the posi-
bilities of creating a housing au-
thority, William A Carson, presi-
dent of the county commissioners.
said that chances for its appoint
ment are poor" at the present
time.
He said that while a housing au-
thority would be satisfactory for
administration of Greenbelt alone.
the fact that it would also have
the right to provide for further
housing projects in the county
would be its chief objection. This
aspect, he pointed out, left a loop
hole for future expenditures of
county funds which he felt the
county could not afford.
Might Cost Money.
II such an authority were created
and suddenly decided to start an
other housing project it would mean
Te would have to float bonds to
over the 10 per cent difference be-
tween the funds the Government
would put up and that which the
county would have to contribute"
ne said.
should the commissioners refuse
to appoint an authority, the Gov
ernment would probably be forced
70 resort to the alternative of an
incorporated residents association.
Farm Security Administration
ofnclals oppose this alternative on
the grounds that it is too similar
10 the present arrangement and
provides too direct a connection
between the Federal Government
and the community.
On the other hand, a countv-
sponsored housing authority would
make the community directly re-
sponsible to the county government
according to officials. who also feel
that this plan would lessen the
tendency to set Greenbelt apart
from other similar communities IN
this county.
The general plan, it was said.
would not affect present admin
istrative policies in force at Green
belt and rent schedules and the
present criteria for tenant selection
would remain the same as they are
now.
1t was also learned that the new
plan would have no effect on
project recently approved by the
Farm Security Administration
whereby residents of Greenbelt and
others may soon be able to buiI>
their own homes on a tract of land
in the cnrorony,it,,