Evening star., 1952-08-27
Council Seeks
Rental Housinq
ReportinCounty
Montgomery Areas
Asked for Survey in
Rent Control Fight

Rent Control Fight
An appeal has gone out to
all incorporated areas in Mont
gomery County for informationI
regarding the availability of
rental housing in the county.
The County Council yesterday
said it had notified the IL in
corporated areas in the county
it desired information on rental
housing prior to the public hear
ing on extending rent control.
Although the council has
authority to request a rent con-
troll extension past the September
80 deadline in only the unin-
corporated areas, the council ap-
parently feels the issue is a
countrywide problem. The county
hearing is set for 8 pm. Septem-
ber 8 at the Rockville Courthouse.
One Town Opposed.
Only one town, Washington
Grove, has answered the coun-
cil'S request. Mayor Irving l..
McCathran said the Town Council
had voted against extension of
rent control since most Of the
homes in the town are owner
occupied.
Other towns which received re-
quests include, Barnesville, Bur-
louisville, Gaithersburg. Garrett
Park, Glen Echo. Kensington,
Laytonsville. Poolesville, Rockville,
Somerset Heights and Takoma
Park.
Councilmen yesterday also made
1t clear they did not intend to be
held responsible for the closing of
the veterans housing project
which the county operates in Sligo
Creek Park.
The Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
recently asked the Council to
remove the housing units from the
park by October, 1858. The COM
mission said the critical housing
shortage had been somewhat
abated and the land occupied by
the 167 units was needed for
expansion of the park and recrea-
tion program.
Has No Rights to Land.
The county attorney has advised
the Council it has no rights to the
property since the land occupied
BY the housing project was granted
for only a temporary period.
The Council indicated it would
ask the planning commission to
defer it's demand for removal of
the project until after the rent
control hearing. The council
suggested that if the planners
have any information as to the
availability of low cost rental
housing. they present it at the
hearing.
Meanwhile the council contin-
ted to receive letters both pro
and con on the rent control issue.
The planning commission recently
reported it has received complaints
on its move to kill the low-cost
veterans housing project in the
county.
The council yesterday received
q petition opposing the commits
sionerS' request signed by 122 res
identS of the veterans project.
The petition noted two residents
refused to sign. Forty-three others
were not contacted.
Linked to Control Issue.
Councilman j. Louis Monarch
said the council was obligated to
seek to change the planners minds
if the existence of a housing
shortage is proved at the hearing.
The councils action yesterday
officially linked the rent control
issue and the commissions move
for the first time.
Montgomery County Manager
Irving G. McNayr told the council
yesterday the county had received
100000 in matching funds from
the State Roads Commission for
work on Seven Locks Road from
Rockville to Macarthur boulevard.
In other action yesterday, the
council appointed 46 full and part
time school crossing guards. Also
added to the county payroll were
Alphonse S. Swegon, of Glenmont,
Md, as engineer with the public
works department at a salary of
$4,410; Harold j. Babcock, of
Westminster. Md, engineer, at a
salary of So. .906 and Mrs. Kathryn
p. Tiedeman, of Silver Spring, as
professional assistant with the IL
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