Evening star., 1952-09-09
Montgomery
Delays Decision
On Rent Control
300 Debate Lifting
Of Curbs on Rutes
At Rockville Session

Of Curbs on Rotes
At Rockville Session
The fate of rent control in
Montgomery County will hang in
the balance at least another week.
council members disclosed last
night at Rockville.
Some 300 persons turned out to
help the council determine II a
Substantial shortage" of housing
exists in the county.
Bitterly opposing extension Of.
controls beyond September 80 were
the County Real Estate Board,
rental agents and apartment house
owners.
Majority Find Shortage.
The vast majority at the hear
ing-most of whom were renters
assured the council there is a
housing shortage. They particu-
larly emphasized a shortage exists
In the lower priced rental ranges.
Some 745 residents of the Be-
thesda area submitted a petition
declaring they personally know
there is a shortage.
The real estate board disagreed.
There definitely is no shortage,
they said.
If there is. however, John C..
Williamson, the boards counsel
said, it is because rent controls
and the threat of controls has pre-
vented building of and conversion
to rental units.
Other real estate representatives
noted there are more than 1890
uncontrolled units in the county
most of which have been built
or converted since 1947.
Dispute Issues on Agenda.
The county council had indi-
Gated prior to the hearing that
only the availability of housing
would be considered.
A high point of the hearing
came when Councilman George
Nesbitt, presiding, said a second
consideration would be made.
The council, he said, also would
consider whether removal of rent
controls would bring additional
rental housing to relieve the pres
ent situation.
The real estate boards chief
argument had been aimed at
proving this was true.
Although the landlords did not
challenge in public session the
councils original intent to con-
slider only rental housing, a pro-
test was made in a 16-page brief
filed with the council.
1.-The council must make find
ing of fact-that the shortage is
substantial and that it is a short
age of housing generally and not
just rental housing" the board
wrote. -@a
Estimates Cost of Increase
Malcolm Thomas, of the Com
munication Workers of America,
told the council even a $40 a.
month increase would cost coun-
ty residents Sill, 800 annually.
Representatives of county chap
ters of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the Disabled American
Veterans also opposed lifting of
controls.
Richard H. Cole Of the Ernie
Pyle DAV chapter, said many vet
Grams would be trapped with no
alternative but to pay if controls
were lifted.
Philip Schiff, former chairman
of the Citizens Housing Advisory
Committee, warned the council
the housing shortage is not just a
local problem. He said if controls
were lifted indications are that
there would be a tremendous rise
in rents.
Councilman Harold Hammond,
however, at one time referred to
decontrolled rents at slightly in
creased prices"
Also supporting continuation of
controls was the executive COM
mittee of the Allied Civic Group
Of Silver Spring, represented by
Louis o. Regeimbal.
Controls advocates disagreed
with the council move to widen its
area Of consideration.
"The only issue at point, is
whether facts establish there is
a substantial shortage" Reuben
Goldberg, of 724 Cameron street,
Silver Spring, said.
Differ Over Vacancies.
Mr.. Goldberg then presented
two sworn aff1davits of surveys
made showing almost no vacancies
in IL major apartment develop
mentS.
Some real estate men said they
had no waiting lists of prospective
tenants.
Others, under rent control said
they had long waiting lists. They
added that the rate of turnover
was extremely high in the last
year. They saw this as a sign of
plenty Of housing.
Real estate men claimed only
1000 units were affected by con-
trolls in the unincorporated areas.
The council said the record on
the rent control issue would be
kept open at least until next Tues
day. If extended. controls would
expire next April 80.
Au1nirinaI chinfe Ia Mat