Evening star., 1944-01-14
Planners Fear
|0versupp|y Of
NuItip|eHousing
Studies Show Trend
May Upset Normal
Values After War

VOIuSS ATtSI war
Federal planners are concerned
over the reported danger OF an
oversupply of multiple family
dwelling units in the Washington
region after the return of normal
postwar conditions if this kind Of
permanent building is continued
at its present accelerated rate.
Figures showing an unprecedent-
ed increase in this type of con-
struction in Washington and near
by Maryland and Virginia, in re-
cent years, yesterday were given
to the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. In the last
three years, especially, multiple
housing units have doubled in num-
ber compared with an increase Of
10 per cent in single family units.
John Nolen, jr., director of PLAN
ming for the commission, who made
the study, expressed the view that
unless the trend is checked or held
within reasonable bounds, there
will be an over supply on the real
estate market when conditions re-
turn to normal With this view
commission members apparently
were in accord.
Virginia Leads in Increase.
In Washington. Mr.. Nolen re-
ported, multiple dwelling units in
creased since 1884 from 43 per cent
of all types of housing construc-
ton to 58la per cent as of today.
The last inventory was made in
1884.
Studies indicated nearby Vir-
ginia communities have gone in
for twice as many multiple units
as those in Maryland. For those
areas comparative figures date back
to 1890
In Virginia the increase was from
a few hundred apartments and
fats to approximately 10000. Mary
land communities also had only
few hundred in 1880, but now there
are approximately 10000 such
units.
The Virginia increase was from
2 per cent to rs per cent of all
housing units, whereas in Maryland
corresponding figures were ! per
cent and 16 per cent now. In con-
trast to the Washington study, Mr..
Nolen said that public housing was
included in the Maryland and Vir-
ginia statistics.
Anacostia Study Presented.
Another study reporting housing
trends IN Anacostia. D. c.. the
fastest growing community in the
District, was presented by Max
Wehrly. civic planner
When fully developed. he report
ed. the Ana costa area has the
capacity 10 more than double its
present population OF $4,000 in
habitants. He gave the potential
| population as 242 900.
Mr. Wehrly discussed potential
residential development of housing
trends east of the Anacostia River. "
Eis study was made over a period
of several months and tended to
show the extent of existing develop
ment and the availability of vacant
iand-both 5ubdivided and unsub-
divided-for future development.
Bridge Pins Favored.
Plans for a two-level bridge to
replace the old Klingle Road Bridge
in Rock Creek Park. used by the
Porter street crosstown bus line.
were approved in principle" by the
commission yesterday afternoon.
Replacement Of the present narrow
and entirely inadequate bridge has
been under study for several
months.
The commission felt this entirely
new proposal has the merit of elm
mating great deal of road con-
struction in the valley and provides
for an interchange of different roads
intersecting at the bridge without
crossing the grade.
The new bridge. it was said, would
be wide enough to provide for two
lanes OF traffic in each direction. At
present there is not sufficient width
for two buses to pass on the bridge.
Capt. H. C. Whitehurst. District
highway director, is preparing the
plans. funds having been appropri-
ated for that purpose.
Street Realignments.
Plans for the realignment OF
Fourth and Fifth streets on the west
side Of Mcmillan Reservoir will be
taken up with Howard University
officials, it was reported. The pur-
pose Is to eliminate dangerous
intersection" at the entrance to the
university grounds.
The question of preserving street
parkways came up before the COM
mission and the members accepted
without questioning the report of
Col. Joseph D. Arthur. jr., assistant
engineer commissioner, that every
thing possible was being done to pre-
serve the trees and grass in the
parking strip. 1t was Col. Arthur's
opinion there was no need for ap-
pointing landscape architect to
supervise this work
The question arose last month
when complaints were received that
very fine tree had been cut need
lessly in front of a business estab-
lishment. Col, Arthur reported the
incident had been investigated and
the cutting of the tree, which was
necessary, had been done under
supervision of an inspector.
great danger in wartime of huge
dams above the Potomac being