Evening star., 1944-02-17
planners Press
Twin Program
ToC|ear 5|un,s
Joint Meeting
Slated to Discuss
Proposed Bills

housing ana urban redevelop-
ment legislation as twin program
to clean up substandard areas of
the District after the war are
being considered by Federal plan
ners today.
Opening its monthly meeting, the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission will continue these
discussions tomorrow at a session
with the Joint Committee on the
National Capital.
At the opening session this noon,
Norman c. Brown, land purchasing
ofncer, announced the acquisition of
SIX and one-half acres situated at
the District line along Southern
avenue as part of the Watts Branch
PARKWAY and flood control project.
He said this is the largest single
holding within the parkway and
the purchase is the result of several
months OF negotiation. This large
acquisition will expedite completion
OF the longtime project.
Other Acquisitions Approved.
AT the same time the Planning
commission also acted on several
other small contracts in the Watts
Branch area. 1t also approved an
other small but necessary acouisi-
tlon OF land to straighten out park
lines In the Pinehurst Parkway near
Aberfoyle place and Thirty-flrst
street NV.
Several small areas involving
about l acre were also acquired in
the Cabin John Creek section of
the George Washington Memorial
Parkway.
After hearing a report on recrea-
tlonal facilities in the Brightwood
area, the commission decided to con-
suit with District officials before
approving plans to purchase the
Emery estate at Concord street and
Georgia avenue NV. for a play
ground area. 1t was pointed out
that this section Of the Northwest
is already literally supplied with
recreational areas.
The commission approved two more
sites for branch public libraries,
funds for the purchase of which
are already in the hands OF the
Library Board. One site is in the
Michigan avenue section in the
Northeast and the other is In the
Northwest Tenleytown section. The
precise locations are not being dis
closed In advance.
Several land transfers also were
considered during the morning. One
of these involves the widening of
Ridge road in Anacostia through a
portion of the Fort Dupont Park.
Housing is the all-important issue
before the Planning Commission at
present, in view of its desire to
press for favorable action on legis-
lation by which blighted areas can
be eliminated in Washington by
both public and private enterprise.
Amendments to the original Alley
Dwelling Authority Act introduced
by Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada, former chairman OF the
Senate District Committee, will be
considered today.
The chief purpose of the amend
ments to permit the National Capt.
tai Housing Authority to undertake
housing projects in Sub standard
areas" outside of inhabited alleys.
This is cannot do under title l of the
act.
Funds Sought for Program.
Senator McCarran also proposed
the creation of an improvement COM
mission to pass on the areas Sc
lected for reclamation and declared
'substandard" Another amend
ment would authorize the NCHA to
borrow up to $40 900, 900 for the re-
develoment of selected areas.
The Planning Commission has
contended for years that the local
Housing Authority should be en-
powered to extend its own program
to other areas. The Housing Au-
thority is empowered under title
2 to cooperate in the program of
the United States Housing Authority
in developing housing projects in
outlying areas. It is also engaged
in the general housing program for
war workers.
But when these funds are cut of
after the war, the Planning Com
mission fears the NCHA may be left
high and dry" unless the McCarran
amendments become law. The
elimination of Washington's in
habited alleys would be tied in with
the program of retaining other
substandard areas.
The urban redevelopment bill,
under study for several months, has
been revised in accordance with the
wishes OF q number of interested
Federal agencies. The final draft
of the bill will be presented at this
meeting. Under its broad scope a
master plan would be drawn up and
adhered to in the development of
selected blighted areas.
Revising Of Report Asked.
Another phase of the housing sit
uation will develop today. Maj.
Gen. U. S. Grant Sd, chairman of
the Planning Commission, was
asked at the opening of hearings
before the Senate District Subcom-
mittee to bring up to date, within a
month, its 1880 report on the hous-
ing situation in the District. The
report involved, also, the clearance
of alley slums. OF the $50 inhabited
alleys, only IA have been reclaimed.
Today's discussion will develop the
Planning Commissions opinion as to
whether the local Housing Author
ity is doing a good job in handling
present-day problems and what
recommendations, if any, the COM
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