Evening star., 1935-12-20
ALLEY SITE SALE
FORDEVELOPMENT
IS AUTHORIZED
IhIder Makes Fact Known
in Reply to West End
Citizens Body.
SOUGHT INFORMATION
OK TWO TRACTS IN AREA
Executive Officer Declares Author.
ity Must Know Use Prop.
erty Is to Be Put.

Sale Of property acquired by the
District Alley D ling Authority to
responsible parL.,o for private de-
velopment, under certain restrictions,
has been authorized, it was announced
today by John Ihlder, executive officer
Of the authority.
In answer to a letter from Charles
L. Norris Of the West End Citizens
Association, asking for information as
to the use. to be made of two squares
in the West End section. Ihlder stated
his Office would be glad to receive
offers for the purchase of any Of its
holdings by responsible parties"
Norris had transmitted a resolution
by his association, asking the authority
to make public the price and condi.
tions of sale in consideration Of which
the authority will sell the real estate
to purchasers for private development.
Must Know Use.
In considering proposals for pur-
chase of its holdings, however, Ihlder
said. the Authority must know to
what use the property is to be put.
"H, for example" he said, 'it is
proposed to develop site for an apart
ment building. and this proposal is
accepted, the Authority may wish to
impose certain restrictions as to land
occupancy, etc., in the public interest.
1t could not release this land to a
possible exploitation by simply an
nouncing sale price and then selling
to any one, irrespective of the use to
be made of it."
Ihlder pointed out that, while the
inquiry Of the West End group deals
with only the two squares within its
territory, there are some 200 other
squares in the District which form
potential" areas in connection with
the alley dwelling program.
He told the West End Association
that If its committee, headed by
MOTIFS, wishes to make an offer for
any Of the Authority's holdings, the
ot1er should be made publicly, stating
the price and terms offered and the
proposed use Of the property.
Then" he said, IF the Authority
does not accepts it would publish the
reasons.
Task Will Be Reduced.
"Of course" Ihlder said in his reply
to Norris, there are several alley
squares in the West End where the
Authority has not acquired property
and where, consequently, any one is
perfectly free to deal with the present
private owners. If you, or any one
else, will redevelop these squares in
such way as to rid them of all alley
| dwellings, the Authority's task will be
reduced.
Frankly, we hope the suggested
procedure would stimulate some one
else to make a better offer than yours.
Our desire is to get the best results
for the public. These best results in
volve consideration of both proposed
redevelopment and price. Assuming
that we get two or more offers in
which the proposed redevelopmentS
are of equal merit. then We would, of
course, take the highest price in order
that the Authority may have more
means to reclaim another alley square.
I'm this connection, I would call
your attention to the provision Of the
alley dwelling act which empowers the
Authority to lease, sell, maintain.
equip, manage, exchange, sell or con-
vey any such lands, buildings or struc-
lures upon such terms or conditions
as 1t may determine.
MAY I add further, that if an offer
is made by governmental or a quasi
public agency whose use would be
more in the public interest than
would private development, the Au-
thority reserves the right to sell to
such agency at a price that will
merely cover costs of acquisition. Or,
if it believes the public interest will
best be served thereby. the Authority
may retain and itself develop and
manage the property.
Nevertheless, the Authority always
welcomes offers by responsible parties
and is ready to revise its plans up to
the time of definite commitments if
any of these offers propose something
better than it has in view"