Evening star., 1942-03-03
Darden Signs
Bill PERMITTING
Apartments
Acts After Hearing
Pros and Cons of
Alexandra Project
By ALEXANDER r. PRESTON,
Star Staff Correspondent.

of a 100000 apartment project in
Alexandria as a result of legislation
signed by Gov. Darden yesterday
making it possible for the Metro
politan Life Insurance Co. of New
York to proceed with construction
The Governor placed his sigma
ture on the Baldwin back
bill, which carried an emergency
clause and became effective immedi-
ately. after a two-hour morning
hearing in which several Alexandria
City officials supported the measure
and a comparatively small amount
of opposition was heard.
The opponent OF the measure who
was instrumental in having the
Governor call the hearing was
Charles C. Carlin, jr, editor and
publisher of the Alexandra Gazette.
Glenn U. Richards, president of
the North Ridge Citizens Associa-
ton, also opposed the legislation
but recognized that his groups op-
position was chiefly for local rea-
sons which would have to be given
secondary consideration in delibera-
ton on a law affecting insurance
companies and policy holders gen.
orally.
Given Realty Support.
Gov. Darden read a letter from
W. S. Hoge, jr., secretary OF the
Alexandria a-Arlington-F Fairfax Real
Estate Board. expressing support of
the legislation.
Mr.. Carlin asked Andrew Chris
tian, representative OF Metropolitan
Life, if any more housing projects
were planned near Washington,
Richmond or Norfolk, to which the
answer was given that so far as I
know, the one in Alexandria is the
only project planned"
This, in effect, makes the bill a
local BILL" Mr.. Carlin said, and
added that he represented a major
ity of the people of Alexandra who
oppose the project.
Mayor William T. Wilkins of Alex
andria denied this sentiment as pre-
vailing among the majority.
1--WE have several examples of
projects sponsored by the Federal
Government in Alexandria, none of
which is credit to the community"
Mayor Wilkins said. .-- -. ~.
He declared the Federal project
known as Chinquapin Village on
King street extended for employees
of the naval torpedo plant is what
you might call a concentration
camp" He said persons are moving
to Virginia from Maryland and re-
mote sections of the District to be
nearer their places of employment
in the new Federal Government de-
partments which will continue to
operate after the present emer-
eency.
Supported by Simpson.
Vice Mayor Eugene Simpson, who
voted on the City Council against
rezoning the property which made
possible the erection of the develop
ment, said his action at that
time was to protect the interest of
property owners He added, how
ever, that conditions have now
changed and he believes the Federal
Government would build low-cost,
undesirable houses there if private
enterprise did not do SO. He told
Gov. Darden that another Govern
ment housing project on Duke street
resembles chicken .brooderS."
City Manager Carl BudWesky said
the Metropolitan plans a project
which will accommodate married
couples with children. He said one
of the greatest problems in the
Washington area is providing hous-
ing for families with young children
in view of widespread bans on such
families which have been put in
effect by apartment house owners.
Mr.. Carlin asked the city manager
If he would not prefer the site to
be developed with individual dwell
ings. Mr.. BudWesky replied that
the council is more justified now
in acting to obtain the project than
it was when the site was reZoned
last summer. This is because it is
now possible to erect only those
houses selling for $4,000 or less, with
inferior materials which are avail
able
Councilman James Armstrong
said AT least rs per cent of the
people of the city approve this met
ropolitan project"
Fenwick Explains Action.
Gov. Darden pointed out he would
have to consider TIE legislation as
it affects the State as whole with
out giving equal regards to an issue
which the local governing body has
decided previously.
Delegate Charles r. Fenwick of
Arlington explained why he had
amended the legislation making pos
sible the erection of apartments by
life insurance firms in his home
county.
while I prefer single house de-
velopments," he said, 1--WE are faced
with the fact that the Government
is coming in anyway and is going
to build irrespective of local wishes
We would be deprived of taxable
land values and have to deal with
the Government on its own terms
as to what compensation we will
receive for essential services such
rs police, water and sewer facilities" J"
In response to question by Mr..
Carlin as to why private enterprise
should not be permitted to erect
single houses, the Arlington Dele
cate replied that priorities could not
be obtained because, while we may
be fighting relationships abroad, we
are faced with beaucracy in almost
every department in Washington
today"
Other members of the Alexandra
delegation we're Ernest L. Mankln
and Charles M. Stump, both men,
bers of the City Council.