Evening star., 1950-06-04
Buckingham Rent Rise
To Average 1917 With
Some Paying 5O%
By Robert J. Lewis

! Inc uldudSeUlcIlt O1 DuCklIlS- -
ham Community, 1.818-unit apart
ment development in Arlington
County which has announced a
rent increase to tenants. said last
night the raises average slightly
less than 10 per cent.
Rent controls end in Virginia
on June 20. The Buckingham
rent increase amounts to an aver
age of $11.07 per apartment and
raises the previous average of
$58.77 to $69.84, the management
said.
Increases ranged up to $23. in a
few cases, representing roughly so
per cent boosts.
The highest raises, however,
were provided for tenants who had
not accepted IS per cent increases
permitted by law earlier.
Penalty" Action Denied.
The management denied, how
ever. that this higher level repre-
sented a penalty" against those
tenants, but said that it was an
effort to "equalize" the rent status
of all tenants.
Lawrence F. Kettell, manager of
the development, said that in his
opinion, Buckingham's new rentals
"are still lower than all compare
BILE apartments in the Washing
ton Metropolitan area"
He said that one-year leases
were being offered to tenants at
the new schedule.
A sampling of the range of
present rents, contrasted with the
new schedule. was provided by
the management at the request of
The Star.
Efficiency apartments renting
for $43.70 will be raised to $52.5
In four, cases in which tenants
did not accept Is per cent in
creases. the rents will be raised
from $38 to $55.
Some Units Raised S23.
One-bedroom apartments rent
ing at $46.57 were raised to $5e.
In the case of II apartments rent
ing at $46.50 whose present ten
ants previously did not accept a
Is per cent increase, rents are
boosted to $69.50. In the case of
seven apartments renting for
$46.50 whose previous tenants did
not accept a Is per cent rent in
crease, rents were raised on pres
ent tenants to $64. ~
Under the law. if a tenant did
not accept Is per cent increase
and later moved out, the apart
ment remained under controls at
its previous level. In Buckingham,
there are 18 such cases.
Other increases announced in
nearby Virginia include one prof.
ect where rentals will be IS a
month higher for each child.
The apartments where children
will cause rents to 60 up are To-
Gated in the first block of North
Bedford street, Arlington, and are
owned by the j. E. Douglass Co.
of $3.50 Connecticut avenue NV.
Owner Explains Plan.
Mr.. Douglass explained the idea
was to encourage couples with
children TO move from the one
bedroom apartments.
"The company has two-bedroom
apartments at other locations
where we don't plan to charge
extra for children" he added.
Mr.. Douglass said couples with
children would soon realize they
could do better to make monthly
payments on a house, rather than
pay the extra amount for children
in an apartment.
It will cost SIS. a month extra
each for more than two adults in
the one bedroom units.
The apartments now rent from
$50 to SGT per unit-most at the
higher figure. The new fiat rate
Exclusive Of the extra IS for
children-win be $72.50. If COM
plete maintenance is wanted, such
as new window shades. interior
lpainting and similar services, the
new monthly rental will be $3.50.
The 109-unit Lyon Properties
apartments in the 5000 block OF
Lee highway, Arlington, have an
nounced rent increases averaging
IA per cent. Rentals range from
$83 to l02 monthly for the one
J and +. hedrooYn units