Evening star., 1942-04-12

are reacting in widely varied manner
to the problem of housing a steady
influx OF thousands Of war workers
and the building Of approximately
$4,000 or more low-cost homes within
the metropolitan area.
Some Of the groups have opposed
any low-cost housing in their area,
Government or privately built.
Others have agreed to cooperate
fully. And still others refuse to
believe that any action upon hous-
ing problems is yet necessary. The
civic groups also widely differ
whether or not the housing projects
should all be within the District or
spread out into surrounding coun-
ties.
In the Northeast section the Chill
lum Heights, Rhode Island Avenue,
Queens Chapel and Burroughs Citi-
zens' Associations have backed the
Michigan Park group in a battle
against the proposal Of John Ihlder,
executive officer of the Alley Dwell
ing Authority, to build TOO low-cost
homes in Michigan Park. The
Michigan Park group, 100 per cent
opposed to the planned project, has
bitterly fought the measure bring
ing its objections to the attention
of the House and Senate, and send
ing a petition signed by 500 residents
and owners of property in the Michi-
gan Park area to the District Com
The group believes that
there is cheaper and easily available
land that could be used in other sec
tions of the District and even in
neighboring counties in Maryland.
However, though it strongly OBJ
jects to any housing within its area,
the Michigan Park group, claims
Clyde E. Vincent, chairman of its
Special Housing Committee, will CO.
operate with the Government If 1t
sees fit to construct "demountables,
with the stated promise that the
houses will be removed after the
war
Reduced Values Feared.
The Michigan Park area has
homes that average $4,000 to $4,000
in value. The A. D. A. proposal
plans to build houses in the 5000
to $4,000 price level, which is its
top limit. The houses are to be
on the Klein-Pfuger
tracts of land, a 70-acre plot
bounded by Eastern and Michigan
avenues and Allison street NE.
Such a difference in price levels
would disrupt the stability Of the
neighborhood and devaluate their
prc>.erty, the residents Of the area
fear. In addition to the threatened
loss in value and an undesirable
change in the character of the Sec
ton, the group objects to the pro-
posal because 1t would cause a sud-
den increase in the areas traffic
problems, which even now they are
trying to untangle.
In stating that neighboring coun-
ties could be better used for hous-
ing project the group gives Mont
gomery as an example. In that
nearby county certain officials have
appeared before the Lanham Act
hearings in the House and stated
that there is plenty OF land that
the Government could use within
their county without objection. AL
ready within the area there is a
project of 800 homes under way IN
Garrett Park and 1000 homes
planned for Takoma Park. Trans
portation, it is reported, would be
solved by the use of IA nearby sta
tions of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road.
Friendship Greeting Varied.
In the Northwest, Cathedral
Heights Cleveland Park, Forest
Hills and Wesley Heights Citizens
Associations have all opposed the
Friendship project OF Defense
Homes Corp, a subsidiary OF the
Reconstruction Finance Corp, to
convert the historic Mclean estate
on Wisconsin avenue into defense
housing. Yet the Friendship Asso-
citation did not object to the recon-
ing of the estate to permit the prof.
ect, because it felt that the project
as shown on the architects plans
would be a lesser evil than the usual
low-coSt housing projects.
The Cathedral Heights group led
in opposing the plan, claiming that
it was an ill-considered venture that
would mar the whole Northwest.
Culver B. Chamberlain, president OF
the group, said that though the
housing condition in the District
was critical there was no need for
such "injudicious emergency meas
ures" as the Friendship housing
project. The Forest Hills group,
since the Friendship Association had
taken no action against the proposal
at the Zoning Commission hearing,
did not oppose the plan actively.
But it agreed with the other citi-
zens' units in the area that the
Friendship housing set bad prece-
dent for the Northwest area.
The Friendship housing venture
will have 720 family apartments and
l 1.f25 single and double rooms for
both men and women. 1t is to be
known as the Mclean Gardens.
In another part of the Northeast
area, bordering on the Southeast
part of Washington. is the Lincoln
Park area, which favors any hous-
ing project for its section that it
can obtain.
A. D. Calvert, president OF the
Lincoln Park Citizens Association,
as spokesman for his group, claimed
that housing should come to his
area. 1t is stupidity" for the Dis
trict and the Federal Government
not to Use the Government owned
land in Lincoln Park.
Traffic Solution Seen.
TOO long has the front door of
Washington been treated like bad
backyard" said Mr.. Calvert. The
area presents the solution to the
traffic problems of the city as well,
the group believes, since all housing
in the Lincoln Park section would
be so close TO Government Offices.
This attitude of welcoming hous-
ing projects is also prevalent in the
Southwest and Southeast sections
~ &t,n ,;&,y nvhn C1,,&Lr,~~f rikir.S- =,