Evening star., 1944-05-19
P|a tanners Favor
S|un1 Clearance
Project Sharing
Call for Continuance
Of NCHA, Extension
Of Alley Dwelling Act

Vs'S SNSA
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission was on record
today in favor of giving both public
and private enterprise a hand in
carrying out Washington's future
slum clearance redevelopment pro-
gram.
Its position was defined in two
actions announced late yesterday
following a discussion of those con-
troversial issues at the monthly
planning session.
Supporting the National Capital
Housing Authority in its fight for
continued existence, the Commits
sion Endorsed the McCarran bill
amendments extending the Alley
Dwelling Act for 20 years and broad
ening the program of the NCHA.
The McCarran bill also authorizes a
$40 100000 revolving fund for the
NCHA to continue its work.
ReapprOveS Own Bill.
At the same time, the Commission
reapproved its own proposed urban
redevelopment bill under which
private enterprise as we'll as public
agencies, such as NCHA would be
able to engage in the rehabilitation
of blighted city areas after the war.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the Planning Commission
has incorporated the principles of
the urban redevelopment bill in a
report which he is expected to sub
nit tomorrow or soon thereafter to
the Burton subcommittee of the
Senate which is considering housing
problems. Gen. Grants report will
give a survey of all public hearings
conducted by the Burton subcom-
mittee to date and make recon-
mendations dealing with the NCHA
and its future program.
The reason features Of the re-
development bill are to be embodied
in the Grant report, it was ex-
planned, is to make sure there will
be no conflict between the two
phases of legislation.
The Planning Commission i'm
posed a specific condition in indors-
ing one of the McCarran amend
ments to the Alley Dwelling Act.
That one would authorize the NCHA
to 60 into other sections beyond in
habited areas in carrying on it's low
cost rehousing program. Such prof.
ects, the Planning Commission feels,
should have its own approval as we'll
as the approval of the District Com
missioners before they are initiated.
Section of the present law pro-
vldes that the NCHA can expend its
own funds appropriated under the
act in retaining the city's inhabi-
tated alleys. It's funds are now
practically exhausted and that
phase of its program has come to a
standstill. The work it has been
doing outside the alleys in recent
years has been accomplished through
loans made by other Federal
agencies. Under the McCarran plan
it would be able to devote the 500
100000 revolving fund to work out
side as well as inside alleys.
The urban redevelopment bill, long
under consideration, would set up
the Planning Commission as a Fed
eral land acquiring agency in con-
nection with rehabilitating blighted
areas. 1t would buy selected areas
and sell them to private as we'll as
public agencies which in turn would
redevelop the areas in accordance
with plans preconceived by the
Planning Commission and District
Commissioners. In that way the
building operations within the area
would be properly safeguarded.
Believes Both Should Share.
The NCHA, naturally, would be
the principal public agency which
would be involved in this problem,
but the rights of private enterprise
also would be fully recognized. The
Planning Commission said it believes
both should share in any postwar
redevelopment program in Washing
ton.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, District
highway director, as well as John
Ihlder, executive officer of the
NCHA, attended yesterdays meet
ing. The former conferred with the
commission on ways it may CO.
operate in the transportation sur
vey he is making in downtown
Washington. The survey of vehicu-
lar traffic, bus and streetcar trans
portation in this congested area is
being done in conjunction with the
Bureau of Public Roads.
An inspection trip of nearby
Maryland park projects was made
by the Federal planners during the
afternoon. They were conducted by
Col. E. Brooke Lee and other mem
bers of the Maryland Park and
Planning Commission.
T~>.I~.>~l.