Evening star., 1946-06-01
Prince Georges Opens
Survey 10 Determine
Construction Needs

A survey to determine actual
housing needs in Prince Georges
County in an effort to learn what
construction is necessary, has been
started in that county, it has been
announced.
Decision to make such a survey
was reported by the recently Or
ganized seven-man county Veterans
Emergency Committee, which met
yesterday for the first time with
representatives of the National
Housing Agency in the County
Service Building, Hyattsville.
William A. Carson, chairman of
the flve-man board of county COM
missioners who was designated as
chairman of the special housing
committee, estimated a demand for
between 5000 and 5000 housing
units among the county's own resi-
dents.
1000 Units in Making.
At present, he added, 1000 units
are in the making, either by those
who have applied for building per-
mits or rezoning changes or those
who have been approved but are
held up by lack of building ma
terials. He said approximately 1900
had been approved, including 1000
apartment community, plus 10
stores and a theater, for Queens
Chapel road, north of the Mount
Rainier High School.
Mr.. Carson said the committee,
which was chosen last month from
representatives of the banking and
building trades within the county,
would contact Maurice McGrath, di-
rector of the county's Veterans
Service Council in the Hyattsville
Armory, for assistance in compiling
the veterans needs. A study of
civilian demands would follow that
of the veterans, he disclosed.
Markley Shaw, Washington area
housing expediter for MIA, told the
committee that agency was ready
to assist in any way it could, in ac-
cordance with recommendations of
Wilson w. Wyatt, national housing
expediter.
Explains Committee Purpose.
Mr.. Shaw. after complimenting
them on their keen and unselfsh
interests" told committee members
the needs for housing have been
piling up since the depression be.
cause people hesitated building in
the 1905 because of it and "ther
along came the war"
The purpose of the county COM
mittee and the MIA assisting is to
encourage and stimulate" construc-
ton by private agencies and individ-
uals, Mr.. Shaw declared. He said
the, MIA was making every effort
to eliminate the national bottle
neck" against building materials.
Low-cost homes, designed to sell
at a maximum of $4,000, were
among Mr.. Shaw's recommends
tions. He revealed that the District
currently has a need for 10000
housing units.
Most construction would be start
ed with stipulations that veterans
be given first priority, he said
These would continue for at least
60 days after the start of the sale
after which time, if there were
no buyers, the priority would be
lifted, he pointed out
Builders Must Qualify.
The MIA. Mr.. Shaw said, would
be unable to get the priorities fo1
the builders. who must get then
on their own qualifications.
| Other committee members who
met yesterday were County Com
missioner Theodore A. Siehler, rep
resenting the Laurel bankers; T
Hammond WEIGH, president of the
Hyattsville Building Association
who was named secretary of thu
Housing Committee: A. H. Smith
Melwood farmer, banker and con
tractor; T. Howard Duckett, Hyatts.
vile attorney and banker, and Sher.
man H. Hollingsworth, Universit,
Park builder. One member, A
Hampton Magruder, Bowie attor
ney, was unable to be present.
Another meeting to consider the
results of the survey will be hell