Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-02-02
By Dorothy B. WalesIi
Staff ReDorter

NONAANAA Va AsONHNAAAS oPPCiiltSN q
housing authority for the city,
thus setting in motion the ma
chinery that will bring public
housing to Rockville for the first
time.
Many people in Rockville have
not been unaware of the fact that
some of its people live in sub
standard dwellings. Some time
ago. in the early 4O's an effort
at Stun clearing was made by
enforcing the existing sanitary
code.
What happened then was that
when the apartment houses on
East Middle Lane were condemn
ed as being unfit for human ha.
bitation, the people there moved
elsewhere to similar or worse
conditions. Without low cost
housing in the area, this is the
inevitable result of enforcement.
The houses" illustrating this
story are examples of the re.
placements for the condemned
apartments. Many new residents
of the city may not be aware of
their existence since they are To-
Gated in outlying districts.
4 Other citizens however have
never ceased worrying about the
problem. The mayor and council
a year ago made the first con-
crete step towards solving it
when they appointed five mem
bers to the Housing Advisory
Committee, headed by Tom Rath-
bone.
One recommendation in this
committees final report last Aug.
ust was provision for low cost
housing before enforcing the ex-
listing codes. At that time the ur-
ban renewal plan was offered as
the best solution. This plan in
effect encourages the building of
low cost houses to be sold to
individuals.
Power Lacking Here
Upon investigation it was
found that in Maryland only the
city of Baltimore at present has
condemnation powers for public
purpose to include building priv
ate houses. To extend this pro,
gram to Rockville, it would take
an act of legislation in Anhap-
oils.
At this point, City Manager
John MARYLAND, who has had a
long. time interest in slum clear
ance in the city, turned his at
tention to the Public Housing
Administration.
Although he still sees urban
renewal as part of the long-range
plan for development of the city
he was seeking an immediate
solution for the so or so families
existing in the worst of the city's
sore spots. He estimates that &c
of these families are living two
or three families to a room.
On November %, Mr.. Mark
land reported to the mayor and
council that his Investigations
showed that Rockville could OBJ
tain public housing funds "at nc
additional cost to the taxpayers
of the city,"
Resolution First Step
j He recommended as a first STEP
that the mayor and council adopt
a resolution declaring a shortage
of safe and sanitary dwellings
available at rents which persons
of low income can afford and that
such persons are being forced tc
occupy overcrowded and longest
ed dwellings at present"
This was done and the next
step was the appointment OF
Stanley Smigel of Twinbrook as
chairman of the Rockville Hous
ing Authority, and Commission
ers Parlette Moore, principal Of
Carver, Joseph Tarello, principal
of Richard Montgomery, Loui.
Leimbach, co-publisher of the
Sentinel and Walter Baker, presi
dent of East Rockville Civic AS
ISOLATION.
Expression of approval il
Rockville so far has been favor
able both to the Housing Advis
Dry Committees report and tC
the new Rockville Housing Au
thority. The only opposition ha.
come from outside.
In a letter TO Robert Plavnick
city planner, and TO Mr.. Mark
land on December 8, James w
Pearson. executive vice.presiden
of the Home Builders Association
said that he was "astounded' anC
"set spinning" by Mr.. Markland'i
statement that public housing
could be obtained at no cost e
the taxpayer.
Puzzled by Need
Expressing puzzlement at g;
real need for the Public Housinl
Authority in Rockville, MI
Pearson asked "since when doe
a new and prosperous communit,
like Rockville need low cost hous
ing other than they have at pres
ent?
1T should be obvious that
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