Evening star., 1945-04-20
Suburban Areas
Lead bui|dino,
Survey Shows
81 Per Cent Gain
In New Construction
Found in Arlington
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

oy INCASON ANDs
Maryland and Virginia suburban
areas are still rapidly outdistancing
Washington in the percentage in
crease Of permanent new residential
construction, survey revealed to-
day, showing Arlington County far
ahead in the Metropolitan Area on
the basis of figures for the first five
yeas OF the war emergency.
from January, 1910, through De-
cember, 1914, the period cited by
Federal planners, permits were is
sued for approximately $1,000 per-
manent dwelling units in the Metro
politan Area, representing an in
crease OF Is per cent over the num-
ber of permanent dwellings on rec
ord as of January l, 1910. This
record was maintained in spite of
wartime restrictions on building ma
teriaE.
Washington's share of the sizable
increase was 1863 per cent, as COM
pared with reported 1872 per cent
increase in Arlington County build
ing permits. Permits for 81 300 new
dwelling units were issued in the
District OF Columbia, exclusive of
temporary public housing and bar
racks for military personnel in the
city. This increase, it was reported
gives Washington total of 216,00OI
permanent housing units as of jan
uary l, 1945.
33S,000- Unit Increase.
The net increase of new residen-
tial construction throughout the
Metropolitan Area accounts for a
present total of approximately $685.
900 units.
Prepared by Max Wherly, city
planner, the report was submitted
for the guidance of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission which is making an inten-
slve study of housing and popula-
ton trends in the Washington area
TOR the planning of postwar projects.
The survey also indicates that
most OF the new dwelling units con-
structed in the District and Vir-
glnla areas were of the multiple |
type, with single family units al
most disappearing" Mr.. Wherly
said. In Maryland there was a
smaller percentage of apartment
construction.
During the past year, it was re-
ported, the trend has been definitely
toward semi-detached homes and
this character of construction is ex-
pected to increase steadily.
Nineteen forty-one was the peak
year for permanent residential con-
struction, 20,400 permits having
been issued then, as against only
3,700 in 1914. the low year of the
period covered by the survey.
Anacostia Leads.
The survey pictured the greatest
growth in Washington as occurring
IN the Anacostia area east of the
Anacostia River, which was borne
out in previous population studies.
That accounts for the special at
tention the Planning Commission is
now devoting to this area in the
District.
New construction accounted for
in Washington, it was said, includ-
ed comparatively small number of
permanent NCHA public housing
units for which permits were issued.
Omitted from the figures, however,
were some $500 temporary public
units of the "demountable type;
Government dormitories for 1850
civilian employees and barracks for
women in the military services.
Because Of security reasons the
number of such units was not dis
closed.
While the actual number of new
residential units constructed in the
District greatly exceeds the number
for which permits were issued in
outlying areas, the percentage in
crease, however, definitely favors
Maryland and Virginia counties.
These suburban areas have been ex-
panding steadily ever since the last
World War and Federal planners
predict they will continue to expand
more rapidly than Washington.
Breakdown of Figures.
A breakdown of permanent resi-
Dental construction during the five
year period pictures the situation in
outlying counties as follows:
Arlington County now has total
of 10000 dwelling units, of which
1900 were built since January 1,
1910. The rate of increase was 83.2
per cent.
In Fairfax County 1000 units were
constructed, or an increase of 209
per cent. The total number of per-
manent dwelling units is now II 900.
The City of Alexandria, with 6,40O
new units, boasts an increase of 69.5
per cent. There are now 15,600 resi-
dental units in that city.
The two Maryland counties were
running considerably behind their
Virginia rivals. New construction
in Montgomery County accounted
for 1000 units, an increase of 302
per cent. The total number of dwell
ing units is $4,000. A 29.7 per cent
increase for Prince Georges County
accounted for $500 new units, max
ing for total of $1,000.
(nvuirn Aid fnun~il ennLe