Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-01
Virginia Vistos

70 diSallow Fairfax County
an extension Of its sewer line
under the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, to serve
the Merrywood project and
other lands, the facts con-
corning the sewer situation
for Norwood have been so
distorted and misrepresented
that ! write on behalf of the
developers Of Merrywood to
attempt to set the record
straight.
1t has been generally re-
ported by the press, that II
the sewer line does not 60
under the parkway, the Mer-
rywood project will fail. The
fact is that there are two
other means Of sewering the
project, neither Of which
could be prevented by the
Federal Government. One
method is to go down State
Route 1913 some 1000 to 5000
feet. touching no Federal
Government land. The objec-
ton to this route is that It
would be more expensive than
going under the parkway and
would also seriously disrupt
traffic on Route 1913 during
construction. To the con-
trary. placing the line under
the parkway would not in
any way disrupt traffic on
the parkway since none Of
the paving would be cut.
Another means Of furnish
ing sewer to Norwood
would be for the developers
to apply to the Virginia au-
thortties to install their own
disposal plant. The develop
ers do not want to do this.
1t isn't desirable for the prof.
ect and neighborhood and the
treated affluent would go into
the Potomac above the d. C
line. If 1t becomes necessary,
however. the developers will
not hesitate to sewer the
project In this manner, and I
have no doubt that Virginia
authorities will grant permis-
sion to do so If the Federal
Government persists In its
position of abrogating the
contract Of 1855 with the
State and County govern
ments. It must be apparent,
therefore, that even If the
sewer under the parkway does
not become q reality, the de-
velopers could and would pro-
coed with the project.
The second area Of factual
distortion Is to the effect
that furnishing sewer to Mer-
rywood under the parkway by
any other means would cost
Fairfax County considerable
money. Nothing could be fur
ther from the truth. With
rare exception. the practice in
Fairfax County is, and has
been. for the developer to pay
the entire bill for obtaining
sewer service. This includes
preparation Of plans, cost Of
installation of lines, man.
holes. pumping stations, etc.
The Merrywood sewer under
the parkway is no exception
to the general rule. The de-
velopers have paid all costs
to date for plans and will
pay all costs for installation,
etc., and then convey the
same TO the county free and
clear. In addition to the
above, the county would re-
ceive SIS for each apartment
Approximately 10000 for
availability charge and then
each year the county would
receive approximately 500, 900
In sewer service charges. The
maintenance Of sewer lines
and facilities Of this sort Is
practically negligible and ac-
cordingly, the initial sum Of
approximately $4,000 for
availability and then the an
nual sum Of approximately
$4,000 for service would. for
all practical purposes. be net
TO the county.
LyttOn ii. Gibson.
-
Concern with the aesthetics
OF high-rise apartment con-
struction along the Potomac
seems 10 diminish the nearer
one approaches the Lincoln
Memorial and the Mall. Up
stream In Fairfax County
various business interests,
county and Federal officials
and citizens groups have
been arguing for months
about whether such construc-
ton should be permitted at
Merrywood on the Potomac
Palisades, overlooking the
Potomac. Downstream here
In Arlington we are about TO
have instant Merrywood. for
construction has been APP
proved Of . high.rise luxury
apartment building. l29 feet