Evening star., 1948-03-02
Congress Probe
|0f viers Mill
Homes Sought
BeoII to Act Today
On Recommendation
Of Brooke Johns

On .kecommen enddtIon
Of Brooke Johns
A congressional inquiry into the
viers Mill Village housing develop
ment in Montgomery County will be
asked today by Representative Beall,
Republican, Of Maryland.
Mr.. Beall said he will introduce a
resolution asking Congress to ap-
point a special. committee to con-
duct the investigation. .
Mr.. Beall was requested to ask
for the investigation by Montgom-
cry County Commissioner Brooke
Johns, who urged a complete con-
gressional inquiry yesterday in an
open letter to the House member.
Mr.. Johns charged in his letter
that contractors for the 1,400-home
project near Wheaton will realize
guaranteed prefit" Of $4,000, 1000
on "substandard buildings. by the
time the development is completed
These profits, Mr.. Johns added,
will be extracted either from
United States veterans or the
United States Government or both"
Probe recommended.
Mr.. Johns, who is president of
the Montgomery County Board of
Commissioners, recommended the
investigation be conducted because
Of my earnest desire to see the vet
eran get real value for his money"
The board president contended
the Federal Government, through
its agencies, has guaranteed a
profit of $1,000 per unit for an ex-
pected total of 1,400 units" in the
new development.
Independent appraisers, engaged
by the county, Mr.. Johns declared,
have said the total of house and
lot could not possibly have a value
in excess of $780," Federal agen-
cies-the Federal Housing Admin
istration and the Veterans Admin
istration-have approved the con-
tractors $8,700, sale price of the
homes, he added.
Original Estimate Cited.
Mr.. Johns said the original re-
quest to the Maryland-Na National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission by the Harris Construction
Co. of New York City, contractors
for the project, for a building per-
init placed the cost of each house
at $4,000. A second request for a
building permit filed shortly there
after, he reported, stated that each
house would cost, $4,000.
FHA appraisers valued the houses
at 81, TOO each, with the VA adding
another $1,000 to the total guaraas
tee to the contractor, Mr.. Johns de-
clared. s
The viers Mill development, los
Gated on Viers Mill road, between
Wheaton and Rockville, was, de-
scribed by Mr.. Johns during a press
conference at the County Court
house, Rockville, yesterday as a
potential slum area"
"It's not just the Viers Mill prof.
ect we're after, but all other con-
struction of this same type through
out the county," Mr.. Johns asserted.
1--WE want an investigation of the
costs Of homes-and of appraisals
in an effort to find out if this is
the type of home or cost the peo-
pie want"
Holds Press Conference
Mr.. Johns, who conducted yester-
days press conference along with
County Supervisor I. G. McNayr,
charged that under one plan offered
nowsby the Colonial Investment Co.,
agents for the development, vet
Grams making a 1000 cash payment
and not taking advantage. of his
benefits under the CT bill of rights,
would eventually pay about $l6,600
into the houses over a 25-year span.
Under a second plan the CT bill
is utilized for a $1,000 down pay
ment loan and veterans eventually
will put more than $4,000 into the
houses over the same period, Mr.
Jones stated.
Harold Straus, secretary of the
Harris firm, said the company was
making only "slim profit" COM
pared with the current cost of
other homes" A representative of
the realty concern said 268 homes
have been sold. The firm had no
comment, on Mr.. Johns letter, how
ever.
Reporters were told yesterday the
land valhe has jumped from $500 an
acre, purchase price of the property,
to between $4,000 and $1,000 an
acre-the price which is sought
from the County School Board for
land to be used as a school site
for the area. Negotiations for a
10-acre site within the 328-acre
tract still have not heen completed