Evening star., 1942-03-25
Garrett Park
To Get 800
A. D. A. Homes
Arlington Prospects
For DemountubIe
Houses Improved

Plans for construction OF more
than 800 demountable houses for
warworkers near Garrett Park, in
Montgomery County. were an
nounced today by John Ihlder, ex-
ecutive of1icer Of the Alley Dwell
ing Authority.
At the same time it was dis
closed that prospects were improved
for a solution of the problem of
finding suitable space for similar
type houses in Arlington County.
Negotiations are now under way
for the use Of the Arlington Can
tonment grounds on the old Agri-
culture Experimental Farm site to
accommodate approximately 1000
Of the 100 units allotted Virginia.
Suitland Plan Studied.
The A. D. A. also is studying q
plan to build similar type houses
in Prince Georges County for war
workers employed at the new Fed
eral office building at Suitland, Md,
Mr.. Ihlder said. but the number
needed has not been determined
since estimates of the number Of
Federal workers there range from
5000 to 5000 employees.
The A. D. A. Official stated that the
Montgomery County site, on the
Straight tract" of about 200 acres
near Garrett Park, was selected only
after conforming to the Dwelling
Authority's policy Of consulting with
local governing oficials prior to max
ing choice of land for such develop
ments. A. D. A. officials met with
the Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, men,
bers OF the Montgomery County
Board of Commissioners and oficials
of the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission in deciding on the
Garrett Park location, Mr.. Ihlder
said.
The structures must be of the de-
type. Mr.. Ihlder declared,
because they will be constructed with
funds for temporary housing only.
He said that they would be attrac-
tive and substantial.
The total cost of each house and
lot probably will not exceed $4,000,
Mr.. Ihlder said, and rentals will be
based on cost rather than on salary
of the occupants.
Mayor Robert L. Lewis Of Ken
sington, which is near Garrett Park,
said the Kensington Council would
study the proposal Monday night.
He expressed the opinion that the
Council would 60 on record in op-
position to the construction OF the
houses in the Kensington area, say
ing that he personally had received
numerous complaints from citizens.
Mr.. Ihlder said negotiations with
the affected Government agencies
are still in progress with respect to
the location Of demountable houses
on the Arlington Cantonment
grounds.
Since the transfer Of the Sd Cav
airy from Fort Myer q few weeks
ago, Mr.. Ihlder said part Of the can
tonment buildings have been va
Gated. The cantonment Is now an
integral part Of Fort Myer military
About IS buildings erected by the
Federal Works Agency might be con-
verted to use for war workers fam
lilies he said Existing barracks
buildings. designed to house large
numbers Of soldiers sleeping on cots
in the same room, probably could
not be converted to housing use,
he said. but they could be retained
for visitors from the armed forces
who are now without accommoda-
tions.
Another Site Under Study.
He said another tract in nearby
Virginia outside Of Arlington, Is
being studied as . possible site for
about TOO demountable houses.
Use of the Arlington barracks as
q partial alternative to constructing
dormitories on the Mall was made to
Roosevelt at q press con-
ference late yesterday.
Although the Chief Executives
initial reaction was that the bar
racks, are not large enough to offer
any substantial relief in the housing
problem, he said he would have the
studied. He has already
said he favored erection Of tempor-
ary dormitories on the Mall, but
objection to such a program has
been raised by the Park and Plan
ming Commission.