Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-24
.Woodner Calls
Debt File True

Ian Woodner, architect builder
who did much to change the
Washington skyline. took the
witness stand in his District
Court trial today and said the
statement he made to the Fed
eral Housing Administration was
true.
He is an trial on a charge that
he falsely certified to FILA that
the company which owns the big
Woodner Apartments had no
debts outstanding on January
20. 1853. arising from the con-
struction costs.
Speaking in a quiet voice, Mr..
Woodner said this was IAN abso-
lutely true statement. He said
that he stands on that state
ment today.
Mr.. Woodner. under examina-
ton by Edward Bennett Will
liams of his counsel, told of his
schooling in Minneapolis and his
study of architecture at the Uni
verSity of Minnesota, Harvard,
the Beaux Arts School in Paris
and other European studies.
Lists Apartment Projects
He listed his apartment prof.
ects including 10 in this area
costing about $40 million. He
also listed projects in three other
places costing about $ll million
and said all were financed by
IFHA-insured mortgages.
Referring to the statement of
January 90. 1858. at the conclu-
sion of the construction of the
Woodner Apartments, he said he
presented to a title insurance
company releases of liens from
the construction company which
built the project and from all
subcontractors.
There has been considerable
testimony to the effect that Rock
Greek Plaza. Inc. originally car
ried the value of the property
at $40 million, the amount of
the mortgages. But, according
to witnesses. this was changed
in June. 1858. and the property
was carried at more than $ll
million. the actual cost to the
construction company, and a
debt for the difference to the
construction company was en-
tered on the balance sheet.
Mr.. Woodner testified that
balance sheets showing this were
turned over to the FILA June 10
1858.
/ Dennison L. Mitchell, head Of
Georgetown University's ac-
counting department. testified
yesterday that Mr.. Woodner was
telling the truth. He said his
statement that Mr.. Woodnel
had told the truth was made
on the basis Of an examina-
ton Of records and financial
statements.
CPA Since 1884
Mr.. Mitchell said he has been
a certified public accountant here
since 1884. He is also a member
of the accounting firm OF
Councillor. Buchanan. Mitchell
and Hayes.
He testified he had studied the
financial statements Of about Is
or II Woodner companies, each
of which owned apartment prof.
ects built with FaA-insured
mortgages. He said that, in all
instances. until the case Of the
Woodner Apartments, the Jona-
than Woodner Co. erected the
buildings for the amounts Of the
insured mortgages. In the case
of the Woodner Apartments,
however. there was a deviation
from this practice.
Rock Greek Plaza, Inc, he said,
carried the property on its f.
nancial statement at the entire
cost. which was more than 81
million above the $40 million
amount Of the mortgages. At the
same time. the statement carried
an offsetting debt Of about 81
million to the construction COM
pany. 1
Mr.. Mitchell said the decision
to include the entire costs on
Rock Greek Plaza's balance sheet
was shown by papers Of June,
1883, which he examined.