Evening star., 1942-04-14
Citizens End
Opposition 10
Defense Homes
Montgomery Civic
Federation Accepts
Plan for 857 Houses

Authority for the Garrett Park
Remington area, will be accepted
by the people Of Montgomery
County, Md, as their reasonable
and equitable burden of the success
ful carrying out of the present war, "
the County Civic Federation as
serted last night.
The sentiment was expressed in a
resolution adopted after the fedora
tion heard John Ihlder, executive
officer of the A. D. A.. explain plans
for the construction Of 857 demount-
able dwellings on the Straight tract
near Garrett Park.
The resolution admitted that "the
building of the low-cost dwellings
will doubtless, for the duration of
the emergency and probably even
longer, unfavorably effect the
nearby residential areas; will in
crease county traffic problems; may
add tax burden to residents but it
is, nevertheless, war created
necessity"
Five Suggestions Made.
Five suggestions were made to the
A. D. A.:
Whenever possible, temporary
housing should be erected where
hardships on surrounding areas will
be minimized. So .
I nlocatiAg projects. every pos
sible advance consideration should
be given to minimizing the disloca-
ton of already overtaxed transpor-
tation facilities.
Wherever schools are not avail
able, the Federal Government should
pay for additional space needed and,
If possible, such schools be perma-
nent buildings, placed so that they
will be of use after the emergency.
Tangible and definite assurance
be given by A. D. A. to insure the
removal of dwellings after the emer-
gency and that total costs Of
schools and other public services
In such developments be reimbursed
to the county.
That the A. D. A. cooperate with
county authorities and citizens
groups of affected vicinities in ad-
vance of signing land contracts.
Report Presented.
A report revealing several new
phases of the project was presented
by H. H. Smelling, chairman OF the
Public Safety Committee.
The report disclosed:
The Straight Development Co. OF
New York offered to lease the Elm
hurst tract to the Government for
81 a year ON condition that the
company would be guaranteed no
loss and the ground restored to its
original condition.
The A. D. A. decided this plan
was not feasible since streets, curbs
and sewers could not be removed
and "the value Of these improve
ments would be many times greater
than the rental value of the land"
The A. D. A. decided it must pur-
chase the land and later sell 1t to
the highest bidder.
THE Straight Co. would doubt
less be a bidder at the end OF the
time, but would have to compete
equally with other bidders" the
report said.
The A. D. A. obtained an option
and signed a contract with the
Straight Co. for outright purchase
of the 217-acre tract.
Covenant in Deed.
The deed to be obtained will con-
tain a definite covenant" prohibit
ing construction of any permanent
dwelling to cost less than $500.
'It is the belief of the A. D. A.
that the minimum frontage for per-
manent structures should be 100
feet, but this figure may be reduced
to rs or 80 feet, depending on facts
not now available.
"Inasmuch as no citizen owning
land nearby can bring suit to en-
force the covenant, the A. D. A.
has advised that it plans to sell to
three prominent citizens, one the
Mayor of Kensington, three small
tracts Of land. and by holding these
three tracts, any one of the three
can bring suit to enforce the cove
nants. This may take care Of very
awkward situation and indicates the
good faith of the A. D. A."
No guaranteed method for re-
n1oval Of the houses is known, but
the committee trusts" the A. D. A.
will "do whatever is possible along
this line"
The type of home has not been
selected, but will probably be the
American Home" prefabricated at
Petersburg, Va, or the Louis Juste-
ment house." an example of which
was erected in one day at Bethesda
recently.
Transportation Plans.
The transportation problem "is
far from being solved" Realizing
the lack of sufficient buses to the
District, the A. D. A. is making sub
stitute plans, including private bus
line, operated by the A. D. A., to
transport workers to the Kensing-
ton station of the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. .
THE monthly fare is expected to
De as low as SlV ana tne auLnOrlty
has in contemplation the seizure of
q portion of the railroad under the
National Defense Law, should there
be a refusal to cooperate"
The committee was advised, how
ever, that the B. 81 O. will not fur
nish additional rail transportation
to this area and it doubts the prac-
ticality of the Government con-
demning the use of the rail facili-
ties because OF the congested use Of
trackage by through trains and the
already overcrowded conditions at
Union Station.
To Meet School Costs.
I'VE are told the A. D. A. will pay
for the cost of annexes. to the
present school buildings, or the
authority can and will, If necessary,
erect its own schools" the report
continued. From the size of the
project, $40 elementary and ITO
Junior and senior high school stu
dents may be expected. Facilities
e. al