Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-09-06
Leaders in Fairfax
Back Housing Plan
Builder Seeks
Site for Homes
Under $4,000
BY WALTER WURFEL
Star staff Writer

"A prlVaCe developer pan
to build a pilot moderate
cost" housing project in Fair.
fax County won unofficial
Endorsements last night from
county leaders. VI.
The proposal was outlined
by John H. Haas, Washington
home improvement contractor,
to a racially integrated group
of rs at Luther jackson High
School. =
He enlisted their aid to find
suitable land for a pilot prof.
ect Of 10 or more houses built
to sell for $4,000 to $4,000.
Monthly payments on 40-year,
FHA-insured mortgages for
the three and four-bedroom
homes would be under $1D0,
Mr.. Haas said. -.
Although his company,
Workshop 22l Inc, is in busi-
ness to make money, Mr.. Haas
said, he does not hope to turn
profit from the Fairfax
venture. He said he is PLAN
ming the pilot project at the
urging Of several county of
ficials," among whom is DR..
Harold Kennedy. health di-
rector. -.
DR.. Kennedy was there,
along with County Housing
Adviser Alan r. Josephson
and County Executive Carlton
c. Massey. s
Whenever private enterprise
can accomplish q need in this
field 1t should be encouraged"
Mr.. Massey said.
Other Needs Cited
Vic Reinemer, who conducted
a housing survey of the county
for the Board of Supervisors
last winter, Endorsed the prof.
ect. But he said the county
also needs a housing authority
to provide large-Scale public
housing for low income FAM
lilies. -
More power to you," com.
mented Benjamin Lee Bird,
chairman Of the Fairfax Com-
Imittee for Adequate Housing,
to Mr.. Haas. The committee
is pushing formation of the
housing authority as another
solution to the shortage.
A third partial solution was
announced last month with the
inception Of the Cooperative
Housing Council. The council
hopes to build cooperative
homes in the Gum Springs
area, one Of Fairfax County'S
worst Slums.
Mr.. Haas said last night that
public housing is fine for FAM
lilies with incomes under 81
900. But, he said, private en-
terprise can do the Job faster
for families with slightly more
money. -.-.
He estimated that public
housing under a county au-
thority could not be built in
less than five years. Mr.. Haas
said he hopes to start work on
his project this year.
Sets General Location
In response to a question he
also ruled out the Gum Springs
area as the location for the
pilot project. Gum Springs is
too geographically isolated and
presents too many drainage
problems, he said in partial ex-
PLANTATION. I'm general terms
we want to stay west and north
Of Alexandria"
He said the major obstacle is
buying land cheap enough to
keep the cost of each home
below $4,000. He is now
searching for a strategic
place" for the pilot project
with access to roads and utili.
ties and with good drainage.
Six or seven property owners
already have contacted him,
Mr.. Haas said. -
Despite the $14,00 maximum
price tag, Mr.. Haas said he
preferred to identify the prof.
ect as moderate cost" rather
than low cost housing.
I'VE are not talking about
Negro housing" he added,
There is no such thing. This
project will be open to all
Corners"
Cites ID. C.. Project