Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-08

According to one source, the
CHA is cool to proposals that it
locate % in the Southwest
Washington redevelopment area
because of traffic and parking
problems there and ~ in near
by Maryland. largely because OF
distances from downtown WASH
ington.
Distance q Factor
The top-secret intelligence
agency, according to this source
also is cool to proposed Virginia
sites at Springfield and Hybla
Valley, again because Of dis
lance.
Repeatedly, however, Virginia
sites in which the agency has
a deflnite-if highly tentative
interest include Arlington Hall,
an area now occupied by the
Army near Arlington boulevard
and Glebe road. and the So
called "Winkler site" at Semi
nary road and Shirley highway
in Alexandria.
Mr.. Broyhill said CHA officials
have come to the conclusion
that obstacles surrounding the
Langley site are insurmount-
able"
Community resistance there
was one factor, he said, but the
main reason was the expensive
community facilities, such as
roads and sewers, non-existent
now for an installation of any
such size, which would have to
be provided. The Langley site.
which is part of Federal prop
erty, was and still Is highly
attractive" to the CHA. but the
feeling is that it has become
impractical" the legislator said
Meanwhile, the Federal and
Washington area planning bodies
also took cognizance Of the
needed public facilities, but pro-
posed that the Federal Govern
ment pay for them If the Lang
ley site should be selected.
Reaction Sought.
The CHA, in compliance with
law. a few weeks ago asked the
two planning groups for their
reaction to the Langley site.
Here's what happened at their
closed-door sessions yesterday:
The Regional Council. meet
ing first, heard a committee re-
port, recommending approval of
the Langley site, provided the
cost of development of ap-
purtenant public facilities be
borne by the Federal Govern
ment." One of the committee
members. Max Wehrle, Of Ar
lington County vigorously dis
sented in a statement he later
made public.
The council adopted this COM
mittee report by a split vote,
and attached Mr.. Wehrle's dis
sent.
The council then met with
the planning commission and
heard a commission committee
report recommending approval
Of the Langley site. It also, how
ever, made approval contingent
upon Federal assumption of
public facility costs and noted
strongly that radical changes
in the planned character Of the
Langley area would have to
be made.
After a discussion with CHA
officials, the two planning groups
voted together to form a Joint
committee, which would work
With the CHA in examining a
number Of unspecifled alternate
sites. Some members said that
at this point they were uncer-
tain as to whether Langley was
fatty out Of the picture.
Reasons for Dissent
Mr.. Wehrle's detailed dissent,
meanwhile, wrapped up reasons
at the root OF the Langley con-
troversy. His major points:
/. The CHA project would dras-
tically change the areas charac-
ter. It has been planned for
"open-type" density Of about 10
persons per acre. It has no
apartments, and virtually no in
dustry or commerce. He esti-
mated the CHA project would
bring 22,700 more people to the
area. Only about 10 per cent OF
the CIA's employees, he said. now
live in Fairfax County.
2 Sewage problems. A bond
issue now provides for a new
Pimmit Run watershed sewerage
system to provide for only about
$500 people in the next i've
years. The CHA is aiming at a
two to three year completion
time. Its project would mean
scrapping present plans and
launching a new bond issue.
8. Water problems. With the
CHA project, present water ex-
pansion plans in Virginia would
point to 80 deficiency between
supply and demand for q period
Of at least two to four years."
4. Highways. Plans for the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway and Routes 1913 and 1913
would have to be changed to pro-
vide wider roads. and there is nc
prospect Of their immediate con-
struction.