Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Defense Homes
States Project
In Arlington
To Provide More
Than 1000 Units on
Seminary Rood
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.
Another phase OF the vast Gov
eminent program to provide hous-
ing for Capital war workers was
unfolded today when 1t was learned
that Defense Homes Corp, R. F.. C..
subsidiary, is planning a huge de-
velopment for Arlington County,
near the Alexandria city line on
Seminary road.
Oficials Of D. H. C. were un-
communicative regarding details of
the development, but said 1t would
include "far more than thousand
family units" and would be located
directly across Seminary road from
the site OF the proposed $1,000, 900
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
project which Is in Alexandria.
Presumably, 1t would be used to
house workers in the War Depart
ment building now being erected in
Arlington. Yesterday D. H. c. rep
resentatives conferred with Alex
andria and Arlington officials about
widening Seminary road to take care
of greatly increased traffic.
Lanham Bill Advanced.
Other developments on the Wash
tngton housing front include:
1. Immediate action expected in
the House on the $50,000,000 Lam
ham bill which would provide about
10000 low-rent housing units and
approximately $10,000,O00 in public
works for Metropolitan Washing
ton. The Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds approved the
bill yesterday and advanced it to
the House calendar.
2. Approval by the District Zon-
ing Commission of petition Of
Defense Homes Corp. for rezoning
of large tract in the Hillcrest sec
ton of Southeast Washington to
permit erection of a 700-family unit
development. Plans for this project
were brought out in the hearing
and we're not announced formally
by d. H. C..
3. Tentative approval by the Zon-
ing Commission of q D. H. c. request
for change in classification of the
Friendship property on Wisconsin
avenue NV, for which they already
had announced plans for a large
defense housing development. This
coming change was approved provid-
Ing the corporation completes plans
with the District government for a
swap of 6-acre tract on the Nc
Lean estate for the Villa Rosa
estate.
Another Development to Start.
4. Announcement by the Federal
Works Agency that construction will
start Immediately on a 278-unit
development for colored defense
workers at Canal and M streets SW.
While this project was programmed
originally by the District Alley
Dwelling Authority as a slum- clear
ance job, it was stated that in view
Of the emergency, defense workers
will be given occupancy preference.
It will be built with A. D. A. funds.
s. F. w. A. also announced that
so homes in a defense housing de-
velopment at Cabin John, Md,
would be ready for occupancy
March Is. The F. w. A. develop
ment, Cabin John Gardens" ulti-
mately will provide 100 homes for
Navy civilian workers at the David
Taylor ship model testing base at
Carderock, Md.
With regard to the $4,000, 900
housing bill, Chairman Lanham of
the Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds said he would request
immediate House action on 1t in
view of the city's pressing housing
problem. Through a unanimous
consent agreement it would be pos
sible to bring the bill to vote today
or tomorrow.
The bill empowers the Federal
Works Agency to handle the $50
100000 following its appropriation
This agency would acquire sites and
erect the housing in the District and
surrounding areas of Virginia and
Maryland. About S10,000,0O0 of the
fund would be advanced to the Dis
trict Commissioners for construc-
ton of vitality needed public works,
such as public schools, hospitals,
streets, additional facilities for wa
ter supply and for garbage and ref
use disposal.
Largely Outright Grants.
Mr.. Lanham explained that a
major portion of funds advanced the
District for public works would be
In the form Of outright grants. The
District, he said, might have to re-
pay part of the funds used for ex-
tension of the water supply, since
the Water Department Is self-sus-
tanning and the municipality re-
ceives revenue from water users.
Though few details could be OBJ
tanned concerning the D, H. c.
project for the Hillcrest area. it was
brought out at the zoning hearing
that 1t would be called Woodland
1t is planned for a 50-acre site near
Thirtieth street and Naylor road
Sc. Plans submitted to the COM
mission showed 81 two and three
story buildings. The commission ap-
proved coming change from A re-
stricted to residential A. The pres
ent coming prohibits aDartmentS or