Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-04

--~-->~~----~->--~- ~>-~>---@~~-~~~~
tense against criticism Of the
former Government housing
project.
And he would probably be as
well informed as anybody about
the community's operation and
structure.
He is the only man he knows
of who has lived and worked in
all three Of the Green" cities
created during the early days
of the administration Of the
late President Roosevelt.
Maintenance Engineer
He worked as maintenance en-
gineer and later as community
manager Of GreenhiIls near
Cincinnati and was assistant in
planning for expansion at
Greendale near Milwaukee.
Nor was he inexperienced at
Greenbelt when he took over
his present post in 1913. He
had worked as maintenance en-
gineer earlier. before taking
over as general housing man.
aeer for a Government housing
project at Middle River, Nd,
in 1916.
Greenbelt is the city devel-
oped in the 1905 as a planned
community. 1t later grew larger
with the addition of wartime
housing.
Since 1853 the city of 1900
Including an entrance sign
that says, 1920 children.
5. Please drive carefully'0 has
been in the throes of transition
from Government housing to
private and, cooperative own
erShip. AA
Expansion Needed
Mr.. Mcdonald now feels the
city needs expansion, both resi-
Dental and industrial. Of
course. it's all planned.
Areas around the present
residential center of the city
have been set aside for housing
and an industrial tract has
been mapped out.
Mr.. Mcdonald, bright and
spry at so, feels confident the
expansion will come fast and
furious" Right now the tight
money" situation is holding
back development.
His confidence stems from
the location of Greenbelt, 1.-THE
crossroads of Prince Georges
County"
Not only do the Washington
Baltimore parkway and the new
extension of the dualized Ed
monston road pass through
Greenbelt but one of the inter-
sections of the Circumferential
highway. or Belt road around
Washington. will be within the
city limits.
Mr.. Mcdonald believes the
area near the Baltimore g.
Ohio Railroad tracks ear
marked for light and heavy in
dustry will be used before too
long.
Big Purchase Made
And a large out-of town
corporation has purchased
much of the city's residential
land for a large-scale develop
ment, but has been caught in
the money squeeze for the
moment. he said.
Mr.. Mcdonald has dreams
for observation-disclosures of a
city of $4,000. with enough in
dustry to help cut the present
tax rate of $l.62 per 500
valuation to rs cents.
Right now Mr.. Mcdonald be-
lieves the city has all the facili-
ties needed for good living.
And we can't move in any
other direction but up" he
says.
His most recent vote of con-
fidence in the community was
the purchaSe-in a co-opera-
tive endeavor-of a five-bed-
room house in a new subdivi-
sion to take care of his large
family children and his
mother-in-law.
Dual Operation
Mr.. Mcdonald administers
what could be termed a part of
a sort of dual operation of the
city. The Greenbelt Veteran
Housing Corp. owns and oper-
ates about $500 of the city's
1900 dwelling units as CO.
operative. The multi-apart-
ment units are privately owned
and rented to tenants and some
lbs houses are individually
owned.
Those in the cooperative
pay a fee that finances upkeep.
heating, and other mainte-
nance costs for their homes.
This convenience. Mr.. Nc
Donald believes. is the attrac-
ton for the many scientists
who live in the community.
They like the convenience
which is the closest to apart
ment dwelling you can find
and still have all the recrea-
tional facilities and trees" he
said.
The recreation ogram
takes much of Greenbelt's an
nual budget Of more than
100000.
100 Acres of Parks
1--WE have 100 acres Of park
and recreation area" Mr.. Nc
Donald asserts. That might
be a record"
Other facilities the city ham
dies are its own bus service
1.-TWO buses). its own trash coll
lectionS, its own water and
sewer company and a six
member police force.