Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-11-05
Area Shortage
Less Acute,
Agency Finds
Units to Rent
Between $45 and $65
Now Are Sought
By Robert J. Lewis

The District Office Of the Fed
eral Housing Administration today
announced far-reaching restric-
tons on further approval Of high
rental" and medium rental"
apartment projects in the District
area.
The action was taken after
a survey which shows that avail
ability of apartments has in
creased remarkably since a year
ago." and an analysis Of projects
already approved which shows
that %, 662 rental units are under
construction at the present time.
In addition to the number &C
tually under construction, said
Thomas C. Barringer. director Of
the District FILA Office, construc-
ton Of an additional 3,245 rental
units which already have been ap-
proved is expected to begin with
In the next six months, bringing
to 26,937 the present number Of
rental apartments remaining to be
completed under the large-scale
FILA apartment program.
FILA will continue to approve,
without restrictions, projects In
the low rental" class. which the
agency defines as SIS to $55 a
month for one-bedroom apart
ment to a maximum of SOS for a
two-bedroom apartment.
Projects Exempted.
Specifically exempted also from
restrictions designed to reduce the
number of approvals is housing
for minority group occupancy"
and military housing. Such prof.
ects. said FILA, will receive "pri-
ority over any other type of rental
projects submitted" by builders.
Mr.. Barringer's statement en-
bodying the new policy on ap-
proval Of rental projects follows:
IAN analysis Of construction
progress on multifamily rental
projects in the Metropolitan Wash
ington Area, plus an examination
Of the early return Of an occupancy
survey of apartment projects be-
ing taken by the local FILA insur-
ing office. has enabled that Office
to arrive at some conclusions with
regard to FILA participation pur-
suant to Section COS in any addi- |
tional rental housing projects.
Units Under Construction.
"An analysis of construction
shows that there are 1852 rental
dwelling units actually under con-
struction at this time, with 3,275
additional rental units to be
started within six months.
This total of 26,937 rental units
to be built under Section 608 of
the National Housing Act are dis
tributed in the Metropolitan
Washington Area as follows:
Alexandria ------3,177
Arlington County -----1.498
Fairfax County -------3.529
Montgomery County ---1,312
Prince Georges County--7,552
D. c.. Northeast ------ 739
D. c.. Northwest---6,110
D. c., Southeast, 5000
I'm addition to the above, there
are Section 608 applications in
process in the local Office amount
ing to 1855 additional rental
units.
while the occupancy survey to
date shows 100 per cent occupancy
in most every instance and that
nearly all completed apartment
projects have q waiting list Of
moderate size, the availability of
apartments has increased re-
markedly since year ago.
1.-THE survey reports indicate an
unusual occupancy turnover.
which, however, might be ex-
planned by the number Of persons
purchasing their own homes in
order to secure better or larger &C
commodations for their present
housing expense, or the avail
ability of better accommodations
at better locations at the same or
lower rentals.
For the local rental housing
market. the FILA insuring Office
(See LEWIS. Page B-5)