Evening star., 1946-02-27
Council Moves
ToSpur Housing
In Alexandra
Assembly Approval
For Grant on 81
Projects to Be Asked

In an attempt to clear the way for
veterans housing in Alexandria, the
City Council last night instructed
City Manager Carl Budwesky and
City Attorney Joseph Pancoast to
seek legislation in the Virginia As
sembly which would authorize the
city to grant funds for housing
projects.
The action was taken after Mr.,
Budwesky explained that a bfll
pending before the General Assem-
bly, would prohibit the city from
making any donation toward the
purchase Of public housing projects
and permits only loans.
He added that the Alexandris
Housing Authority, to which the
loans would have to be made, has no
assets and would not be able to repay
the loans.
r. F. & P. Offers Land.
j. Kent White, chairman of the
Cltlzens' Postwar Service Commit
tee, reported on the work his COM
mlttee has done to obtain 100 units
from the Federal Public Housing
Authority and said the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail-
road had offered the use of seven
or eight tracts of land in the city
owned by the company on a 81 a
year basis. The Alexandria Housing
Authority, he said, has indicated its
Willingness to manage the project:
once the city assumes certain re-
sponsibilities.
According to r. S. Marshall, man.
ager of the Alexandria Housing Au.
thority, if the legislation already in.
troduced in Richmond is passed, ths
authority will have the power to
handle the project on the condition
laid down by FPHA, that the city
be responsible for the installation
and final disposition of the units
which, he estimated, would cost ap-
proximately $3.50 each.
Further action taken to benefit
veterans was the authorization for
the city manager to make applica-
ton for the city to be an employer
under the CT apprentice training
program. In addition, Council agreed
to support the meeting to be held
at the Washington Street USO on
March 6 at which the program of
veterans apprentice training will
be explained to Northern Virginia
business men.
F. Clinton Knight, veterans servics
ofncer for Post "a, American Legion,
said more than 1000 veterans have
applied for the apprentice training
program in Alexandria. Only rs
firms have applied for approval as
employers under the program.
Building Use Approved.
The council authorized the tempo
rary use until April l of the city,
| owned buildings on Mount Vernon
avenue, and at Fayette and Queen
streets, now used as day care centers
under the Lanham Act, by the CO.
operative parents group which plans
to continue the operation of the
centers when Federal aid Is with.
drawn on March /. Mr.. Budwesky
said he was not prepared to sub
NIT his recommendation as to
whether or not the city should con-
tinue sponsorship of the project
which has been operated by the
Department of Public Welfare for
the past three months, but advised
chat the use of the buildings be
permitted until some decision can
be reached.
The way was cleared for the erec-
ton of the Braddock Power g. Light
Co.'S s5o,0o0,000 power plant in
alexandria when, at the request of
Its attorney, Gardner L. Boothe. the
last portion of its property on ROYAL
street extended was rezoned from
A residential to E industrial. Mr..
Boothe said that construction is ex-
pected to start in about 18 months.
with the plant to be completed by
1850.
An ordinance was passed creating
additional metered parking zones.
and the purchase of 234 additional
meters was authorized,
The following appropriations were
passed on second and final reading.
So,oo6 to cover cost of purchase of
two parcels of land at the northeast
corner OF Green and Columbus
streets to be used for recreationaI
purposes; $4,000 to pay salaries of
10 additional paid members of the
Fire Department recently author
lied to bring the paid complement
OF the department to 80, and s25o0
to pay the salary of a field inspec-
tor to supervise the construction of
school buildings.