Evening star., 1945-11-18

Prospects appear slight, on the
basis of survey made yesterday
by The Star, that Washingtons
housing shortage will be more than
slightly relieved by reductions in
the personnel of foreign agencies
set up here during the war.
While the British are gradually
liquidating their staffs. the French
and q number of other nations are
adding personnel and the Soviet
governments force is not expected
to decrease appreciably.
A spokesman for the Soviet Pur-
chasing Commission denied reports
that its government planned to give
up apartment buildings at 1855 Six
teenth street NV. and 1910 Park
road NV, which contain a total OF
205 apartments converted into Of
fees.
Soviet Will Renew Leases.
"The leases run until July and
we expect to renew them so that
we can maintain Offices here" the
spokesman said. He added there
was no present intention to give up
about 20 houses on Peabody street,
between Eastern avenue and Berk-
shire street, Silver Spring, Md, or
apartment units at BOLT Eastern
avenue, Chillum Heights, Md, which
house Soviet employees.
Nor do the Federal Governments
plans hold out much hope that
more than a comparatively few
apartments will be released, check
of the Public Buildings Administra-
ton revealed.
There seems to be a great mis-
apprehension about the number OF
apartment buildings occupied by
the Government" PBA official
said. "We have only three apart
ment buildings that eventually will
be returned. Throughout the war
we have leaned over backward in
not leasing apartments, and refused
many that were offered to u.s."
Apartment Buildings Listed.
The official said the three leased
apartment buildings were Rock
Greek Garden Apartments. 250l @
street NV. with 108 units; Dupont
Circle Apartments. 1345 Nineteenth
street NV, with $50 units, and the
New Boulevard Apartments, SIS
Twenty second street NV, with 152
units.
The PBA official said the Rock
Creek Garden building probably
would be released within six months,
but that there is no decision even
in sight" on the other two. He said
both probably would be used by the
Government for at least year.
IF you can let the people know
what the real situation is, you would
be doing everybody a favor the
spokesman said, indicating that mis-
information about the availability
Of apartments had caused a rush of
inquiries.
British Release Three Buildings.
As for the British, officials said
that while stats were dwindling
in line with decreased purchasing
and military activity, the only
buildings so far given up were the
Grafton Hotel, 1889 Connecticut
avenue NV; one apartment build
ing of IL units at 1907 K street
NV, and a small building at l703
K street NV.
British sources said that while
eventually other buildings would be
relinquished, none would be i'm
mediately suitable for. apartments
because they had been used as
offices so long they would require
extensive renovataion No decision
has been made to cancel any addi-
tional leases yet, the British En-
bassy and British Information
Services said. s
Reports that the British were
closing up shop and moving out
brought a storm of requests on
British officials for apartment space.
an information service spokesman
said.
Apartment Requirements Outlined.
One person said she wanted a
nice apartment with cross ventila-
ton in the bedroom, the official
added. "Of course, we have nc
apartments at all"
In connection with reduction in
personnel of the approximately 20
British and colonial missions and
agencies set up here during the
war, a spokesman pointed out that
many employees were Americans who
might remain in Washington.
OF the approximately $500 per-
sons employed here as Of September
30. the official said. probably less
than 1000 were British.
British List Holdings.
Apartment houses occupied by
British offices, and for which the
British say no date has been set
for withdrawal, are located as fol-
lows:
Greenbrier, 1l07 Sixteenth street
NV. 16 units; John Marshall, 1917
K street NV, 40 units; Bradford
1900 K street NV, 81 units; Ke.
drick, 1901 X street NV, 48 units
Marshall, 1905 Fifteenth stree
NV, 43 units; Prince Karl Hotel
1901 K street NV, 80 rooms; Nc.
Cormick Apartments, 1875 Massa.
chusetts avenue NV, 6 units; 1424
Sixteenth street NV, Is units, anc
Vancouver, 1920 X street NV, q
units.
The British pointed out that many
military and economic warfare per.
sonnel stationed in Washington dur.
! ing the war have returned home
and that the intention is to reduce
all stats as quickly as possible.
The information services source
explained there was a prewar nor.
NAL employment by the British o1
several hundred persons and it wa.
possible changed conditions might
require a larger permanent staf1
here.
French To Increase Staff.
A French Embassy spokesman
pointed out that the French govern
ment maintains offices in one Apart.
ment building at 1900 Adams Mil
road NV, and that the French staff