Evening star., 1944-03-17
Bill Is Drafted
10 Eliminate
|BIighted Areas
Urban RedeveIopment
Legislation Goes to
BUDGET Bureau

The final draft of proposed legis-
lation to provide the machinery for
an orderly redevelopment of blight
ed areas in the District after the
war was forwarded today to the
Budget Bureau prior to its sub
mission to Congress.
known as the urban redevelop.
ment bill and drawn up by a con-
sultant of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
the proposed program would be tied
in closely with both public and
private housing.
In this connection, 1t was reported
that little headway has been made
in the elimination of Washington's
200 inhabited alleys since 1882 when
the former Alley Dwelling Authority
was created John Nolen, jr., di-
rector of planning, told the COM
mission that of the 1000 alley
dwellings standing 10 years ago,
about 1,400 are still being occupied.
Only II of the alleys have been
wiped out during the 10-year pro-
gram.
Insufficient Funds Blamed.
Failure of Congress to provide
sufficient funds for alley elimination
was cited as the main reason for
present conditions, factor which
planning officials believe would be
remedied should the urban rede-
velopment bill become law.
Figures given by Mr.. Nolen were
the only pertinent facts of a sur.
Vey OF the alleys made by the Ma.
tional Capital Housing Authority.
formerly the ADA, which were made
public. A report on the survey will
be turned over to Senator Burton's
subcommittee which is holding hear
lngs on the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority Act.
Senator Burton, Republican. Of
Ohio also had requested the PLAN
ming Commission, which was help
ful in securing the legislation. to
recommend changes in the act tn
mt present-day needs. The COM
mission will draw up its proposed
amendments after it has heard all
SIDES OF testimony now being given
before the Senate District Sub
committee. Private buildings are
to appear at today's hearings.
First Step in Program.
The redevelopment bill. drafted
by Albert Betman, would make
Washington eligible for Federal
funds for postwar reconstruction.
First step in the proposed pro.
gram is for the Planning Commits.
sion to bring up-to-date it's compre-
hensive plan for the development
lot Washington and its environs.
Then the Commission would select
bllghted area, 10 or so square
blocks for instance. and work out
careful plan for its redevelop-
ment. Under such plan pro.
vision would be made for schools.
Fairgrounds, commercial establish
ments and the character of resi-.
Dental buildings best suited to the
area.
That the plan would then be SUBJ
mitted to the District Commits
sloners for public hearings and If
approved, or modified, it would be
turned over to public land ac-
curing agency which would have
the power to institute condemna-
ton proceedings if necessary.
Safety Clause Included.
HaVin" accuired the land, the
, agency next would offer it for sale
to public housing agencies or
private builders for development. A
safety clause in the bill makes it
mandatory uron all concerned to
carry out the orderly plan drawn
up fol each specific area. There
could be no departure from this
plan without official approval.
Decisions we're reached yester.
day on several tentative routes for
the proposed Baltimore-Washing-
ton Parkway from the District Line
to Fort George G. Meade. One plan
calls for a dual traffic parkway
from which trucks and other heavy
traffic would be barred.
Thomas Macdonald, public roads
administrator and member of the
Maryland Park and Planning Com
mission joined in the discussion.
Exact details of the suggested routes
were not divulged in advance be-
cause all of the rights-of essen
tial for the parkway have not been
purchascd.